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.

Too Big an Army

Posted on April 27, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

When you find yourself in a difficult place, look for God’s wisdom and strength. Sometimes he stretches our faith by giving us unconventional wisdom. Don’t be afraid. Trust him and obey and look with expectation to the victory he will bring. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged deliverance, faith, Gideon, Gideon's army, relying on own's own strength, too big an army, too many men, too many soldiers, unconventional wisdom | Leave a comment

Mighty Warrior

Posted on April 26, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

What matters is not his inability, but God’s ability. The one God chooses can depend on him to provide all they need to accomplish the task they are given. When God calls us to a task, we need only know that He is with us. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged focus, Gideon, God's ability not our inability, God's call, Judges, Lord is with us, mighty warrior, potential | Leave a comment

The Strength to Go On

Posted on April 25, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The Mount of Olives. This solitary place was a regular place of refuge for Jesus where he would pour out his heart to the Father. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged facing temptation, Jesus, Jesus prayer life, mount of olives, prayer, strength for the day, strength to go on, temptation | Leave a comment

Never Ending Cycle

Posted on April 24, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Judges is a powerful reminder of how easy it is to drift; how easy it is to compromise; how easy it is to miss out on God’s best for our lives. It is a reminder that “everyone doing what is right in their own eyes” is a recipe for chaos that causes hurt and harm. Open up your heart to Jesus. Cry out to him for deliverance and break the cycles of compromise. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged book of Judges, compromise, disobedience, drifting, open your heart to Jesus, patterns of behavior, repentance, revival, spiritual downfall | Leave a comment

Time Well Spent

Posted on April 23, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Surely Jesus commitment to pray is also a testimony to the delight Jesus found in prayer. Such commitment reveals a heart that is motivated by delight more than duty. Prayer is intimate fellowship with the Father: an opportunity to pour out his heart; an opportunity to listen; a time to be refreshed and refocused in preparation for the ministry of the coming day. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged commitment to prayer, delight, duty, intimacy with the Father, Jesus, Jesus prayer life, joy and delight, prayer, presence of the Father, quiet place, solitary place | Leave a comment

As For Me and My House

Posted on April 22, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD! Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged as for me and my house, covenant, faithfulness, fear the Lord, God, Joshua, me and my house, remember God's work | Leave a comment

Every Promise

Posted on April 21, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

God never fails and his promises can be trusted. But we do often fail. Our procrastinated obedience or deliberate disobedience can make it seem that the promises are not being fulfilled. How quickly we forget the conditions of the promise. How often we “turn to the right or the left” (6). Delays may also be the result of other people who have yet to meet the conditions of obedience. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged conditions must be fulfilled, conditions must be met, do not turn to the right or left, every promise, God's promises, obedience, promises, we often fail | Leave a comment

Rest

Posted on April 20, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Jesus too, calls us to give up our striving and find rest in our relationship with him. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged bible, christianity, discipleship, faith, God, Jesus, Joshua, rest for my soul, rest in the promised land, rest on every side, the Lord gave them rest | 1 Comment

Robbed of Its Purpose

Posted on April 19, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Like the people of Israel, people in churches today, sometimes place personal convenience ahead of God’s purpose. They begin to think that the church is only for “people like us.” When churches cease to care about reaching out to new people–when they forget about God’s heart for all nations–the church loses focus and purpose. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged den of robbers, for all nations, house of prayer, Jesus cleared the temple, personal agendas, personal convenience, pride and prejudice | Leave a comment

Who Do You Eat With?

Posted on April 18, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Jesus prioritized people—especially those that good society rejected—those that weren’t really welcome in the place of worship; those that might bring dishonor to table-fellowship. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged dishonor, evangelism, friend of sinners, Jesus, scandal, table fellowship, tax collectors and sinners, who do you eat with?, witness, Zacchaeus | Leave a comment