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.

The Blessing

Posted on January 24, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

In a world where we hear and experience more curses than blessings, these words of blessing are needed and encouraging. Blessings bring healing to wounded emotions and encouragement to the discouraged and disheartened. They bring joy, peace and hope–and we all need that. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged blessing children, blessings, Genesis, healed by blessing, Hope, Joseph, joy, peace, speak well of, wounded by cursing | Leave a comment

Faith that Refuses to Give Up

Posted on January 23, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Don’t give up. Persist in your faith. Press on with your prayers. Wait expectantly. Jesus sees and, when the time is right, will answer. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged Canaanite woman, cry out to God, faith, great faith, healed, Jesus heals, Jesus hears, persistent faith, press on with your prayers, wait expectantly, when prayers seem delayed indefinitely, when the answer seems to be no | Leave a comment

The Forgiving Heart

Posted on January 22, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Joseph knew that God was using that event for a greater purpose. Joseph could see the hand of God in it all, and he grew through the experience. The tough times in Joseph’s life were the very things that caused growth and maturity of character. They were the things that caused him to trust God and become the leader God was preparing him to become. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged all things work together for good, character, difficult circumstancess, difficult experiences, difficult people, forgiveness, healing, Heart that is free, Joseph, maturity, releasing forgiveness, sovereignty, trials | Leave a comment

How Long, O Lord?

Posted on January 21, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

We’ve all had times when we can relate to the psalmist’s questions. There are times when we wonder if the Lord is really listening—times when the answer is slow in coming. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged cry out to God, despair turns to hope, devotion to Christ, discouragement, disheartened, doubt and fear, faith, God seems distant, Hope, how long O Lord?, joy, lament, love, unanswered prayer, waiting on God, when the answer never seems to come, Worship | Leave a comment

Can We Find Anyone Like This?

Posted on January 20, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

When the time was right, God exalted Joseph. The times of testing, the perseverance through difficult and sometimes unjust circumstances had taught him lessons of faith and trust. Now he was ready–and God brought him from the lowest place to the highest place. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged faithfulness of God, humbled then exalted, Joseph, Spirit of God, testimony of Joseph, ups and downs, waiting patiently | Leave a comment

Resist

Posted on January 19, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Instead of giving in to the passion of the moment, he looked at the situation rationally and righteously. His split second decision made the difference between falling into sin and standing strong as a righteous man. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged fighting temptation, Joseph and Potiphar's wife, rebellion against God, resist, resist temptation, resolute, righteous, run away, sin, temptation | Leave a comment

Careless Words

Posted on January 18, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Your words really do reveal your character. They point to what is really inside. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged accountable for words, blessing and cursing, every careless word, words, words reveal character, words reveal what is in your heart, words reveal what is inside you, words that encourage, words that lift up | Leave a comment

The Blessing of Wisdom

Posted on January 17, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Perhaps the greatest blessing is the peace and assurance of knowing that you are walking in right relationship with God–of knowing that he is “your confidence” (26) and the one who will keep your foot from being snared. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged anxiety, Blessing, fear, Proverbs, rest, sleep at night, truth for life, walking in wisdom, wisdom | Leave a comment

Is Your Soul at Rest?

Posted on January 16, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Jesus calls you to come rest–to spend time with Him–to get to know him and his ways. To enter into his path of discipleship. Then you walk together in his strength–he comes alongside you and enables you to live and work from his strength, and not just your own. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged burned out, disciple, discipleship, exhausted?, grace, is your soul at rest?, Jesus, relationship with Jesus, renewed and refreshed, rest, the easy yoke, unforced rhythms of grace, walking with Jesus | Leave a comment

The Final Say

Posted on January 15, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

When life proves unfair, when we are trampled upon by others, when people let us down, we do not lose perspective. Life is often unfair, circumstances are often difficult, people are often unrighteous, but God is just. And he gets the final say. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged caught in their own traps, circumstances are often difficult, encouragement, give an account to God, God is just., judge, judgement, life is often unfair, people are often unrighteous, The final say, trust God, vindication | Leave a comment