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 Mountaintop

Posted on August 2, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The blessings of the mountaintop are wonderful, but can become a temptation to pride. That is one foothold that you don’t want to even try—it leads to a quick and devastating slide to the bottom. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged attack of the enemy, criticism, good kings of Israel, Hezekiah, mountaintop, pride goes before a fall | Leave a comment

Blessing Instead of Bleeping

Posted on August 1, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Instead of blessing people with encouraging, helpful words, we are so quick to demean and criticize. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged angry words, Blessing, contempt, curse, gossip, hate-filled words, judgmental | Leave a comment

Thank God For Broccoli

Posted on July 31, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Our freedom in Christ may lead to differing convictions on some issues. These should not be a source of disunity in the body of Christ. Flaunting our freedom before someone with differing convictions would also be wrong. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged broccoli, easily offended, imposing your convictions on others, stumbling block, violate your conscience, weaker brother | Leave a comment

Starting and Finishing Well

Posted on July 30, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Lofty thoughts of God led to his success. Lofty thoughts about himself led to his downfall. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged crash and burn, fear of the LORD, finishing well, lofty thoughts about God, pride goes before a fall, starting well | Leave a comment

I Stand in Awe

Posted on July 28, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

God’s plan is sometimes difficult to understand. Especially when we try to figure out how he’s “working all things together for good.” There’s a lot of mystery there. Some things are beyond our knowing.. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged Control-alt-delete, depth and riches of the wisdom of God, God works all things together for good, God's plans, God's purposes, I Stand in awe, Worship | Leave a comment

What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

Posted on July 27, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

They stood and waited. They listened. They prayed. They stood firm in faith. They praised. Sing loud and see the deliverance God brings! Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged faith, Praise, spiritual battles, stand firm and see the victory, tests of faith, you don't have to fight this battle | Leave a comment

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Posted on July 26, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Intercession is both agony and ecstasy—both deep struggle and “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). Open your heart to Jesus, feel the burdens of his heart and allow him to teach you to pray. He has much to teach you. The ecstasy makes all the agony worthwhile. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged intercession, joy in prayer, prayer, prayer burdens, struggle of prayer, teach us to pray, Wesley Duewel | Leave a comment

Time After Time

Posted on July 25, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

We are forgetful people and our forgetfulness keeps us from trusting God fully. Is he not faithful, even when we are faithless? Is he not powerful, even when we are powerless? Is he not loving and gracious? Is he not good? He has demonstrated these qualities in our lives over and over again. Yet we so quickly forget. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged cycle of drifting, exile, grateful, grumbling, putting God to the test, though we are unfaithful, yet God is faithful | Leave a comment

Nothing Can Separate Us From His Love!

Posted on July 24, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Because God loves me, I can endure the present sufferings knowing, that they “are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged all things work together for good, Hope, love, more than conquerors, nothing can separate me from God's love, promises of God | Leave a comment