Two or Three

Posted on January 27, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 27

Two or Three

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 17:6-9 | Exodus 4:1- 5:21 | Matthew 18:1-22 | 

Proverbs 5:15-21

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 18:1-22

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:19 NIV).

God loves prayer meetings. Many people avoid them. But God always shows up. He loves to be a part of any meeting where two or three of his children come together to pray.

Be assured that whenever you gather to pray, Jesus is right there in the middle of your group interceding along with you. The Holy Spirit is there too, interceding according to the Father’s will. And of course, so is the Father, listening and answering prayers. Your group may be small, but know that you have the ear of the Father. Praying together, God’s kingdom purposes are achieved, his will is accomplished on earth as it is already being done in heaven.

There is power in agreeing together in prayer. Praying in a group is different than individual prayer. In a group, you are encouraged by each other’s faith. Often there is boldness and faith that comes as you press in to the heart of the father together.

As you pray together, you bring your various gifts that work together to pray more effectively.  One may be gifted with wisdom and have insight in how to pray for something that you wouldn’t by yourself. Another’s knowledge of scripture enables them to pray boldly because they are able to claim a promise pertinent to the situation that gives them faith to really believe. Another may bring a gift of faith and have the ability to touch God’s heart with the purity of their childlike trust.  

God loves prayer meetings.  He loves to show up.  What about you?

God Who Hears, help my heart to find joy in praying with others. May our various gifts work together to cry out as with one voice. Help us to agree together in faith and expect you to work through our prayers. Remind us that when we pray together—even two or three of us—you are present with us. Amen.

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Who Am I?

Posted on January 26, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 26

Who Am I?

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 17:1-5 | Exodus 2:11-3:22 | Matthew 17:10-27 | Proverbs 5:7-14

Today’s Scripture Focus: Exodus 2-3

But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:11-12 NIV).

God appeared to Moses in an extraordinary way: he appeared in the form of a bush that keeps on burning without any signs of being consumed.

God called Moses to a huge task: to lead the people of Israel out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Leading any large group of people is filed with challenges, but this one also required confronting one of the most powerful rulers of history: the Pharaoh of Egypt.

Confronted by the difficulties ahead, Moses began to doubt his abilities. He began to question whether he was really up to the task. He expresses his self-doubt and insecurities with a question many of us can relate to: “Who am I?” 

God doesn’t answer that question directly. Yet his reply more than answers the question. His reply? “I will be with you.”

When confronted by a huge task, the real question is not “Who am I?”, the real question is “God are you with me?” It’s not a matter of who I am, but of who my God is. I may not be able to do it by myself, but if God is with me, I can do whatever he calls me to do.

Whenever God calls us to do something–especially something that will stretch us, something we are not sure we can do–be assured that God will be with you. He will be there to empower you, to give you wisdom and to comfort you. He will be there to lift you up when you fall down.

Don’t limit yourself by self-doubt and insecurity. God is with you. That’s all that really matters.

Emmanuel, thank you for calling me, gifting me, and providing the opportunities that stretch me. Remind me that it isn’t who I am that matters. What really matters is that I know that you are with me today and always. Amen.

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God’s Purposes

Posted on January 25, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 25

God’s Purposes

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 16:7-11 | Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10 | Matthew 16:13-17:9 | Proverbs 5:1-6

Today’s Scripture Focus: Genesis 50

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 NIV).

We live in a world where many evil things are done. People are hurt and wronged all the time. But that isn’t the whole story.

As in Joseph’s life, God is also at work. What others do to us with the intention of harm, God is able to turn around for his purposes to accomplish good.  

His brothers’ evil intentions of selling Joseph into slavery led to God’s good intention to make Joseph a powerful ruler in Egypt who would provide food for many during a time of famine (including his own family).

Romans 8:28 states the same principle: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

In all things, even the hardest to understand, God is at work shaping actions brought about by man’s evil intentions into opportunities for his own good intentions and our growth.  His ways are beyond our understanding—truly amazing.

When circumstances get you down, when people hurt or take advantage of you, look to the Lord and his amazing ways.  Look for a hidden purpose.  Wait in hope and look for the good that God intends to bring from your situation.

God of Hope, your ways are beyond my ability to completely understand. Yet I wait, I trust, I hope in your faithful, unfailing love. Work all things for my good and your glory. Amen.

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The Blessing

Posted on January 24, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

January 24

The Blessing

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 16:1-6 | Genesis 48:1 – 49:33 | Matthew 15:29-16:12 | Proverbs 4:20-27

Today’s Scripture Focus: Genesis 48:1 – 49:33

“Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh…” (Genesis 47:8, 10 NIV).

“Bring them to me so I may bless them” (Genesis 48:9, NIV).

“Then he blessed Joseph. . .” (Genesis 48:15, NIV).

“Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come” (Genesis 49:1, NIV).

“All these are the twelve tribes of Israel and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him” (Genesis 49:28, NIV).

Throughout these chapters, the emphasis is on the blessings given by Jacob. He blessed Pharaoh. He blessed his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He blessed Joseph. Then in chapter 49, he blesses each of his twelve sons.

In these blessings we see some of the common characteristics of blessings. There is often physical contact, usually placing one’s hand on the one being blessed. The blessing is spoken over the person so they can hear the blessing. The one blessing looks to the Lord for insight, and speaks words of insight and expectation.

In more informal ways, we often bless people through our prayers when we pray for them, seeking God’s best—his blessing. We also bless people through our words of encouragement. These are important too. But there is something even more powerful about the traditional blessing seen here, where one places their hand on you and looks to God for insight as they speak words of blessing over you.

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.

Too often our words wound–they bring a curse rather than a blessing. James says, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:10, ESV).  Allow God to control your tongue, then you will become the source of blessing he intends for you to be.

Blessed Savior, bless me with words of encouragement, hope and healing that I might bless others. Replace the words that were intended to curse, with words that bless. May my mouth demonstrate the fruit of a heart that has been changed by an overflow of words that praise you and bless others. Amen.

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Faith that Refuses to Give Up

Posted on January 23, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 23 

Faith That Refuses to Give Up

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 15:1-5 | Genesis 46:1 – 47:31 | Matthew 15:1-28 | Proverbs 4:14-19

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 15:1-28

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 

“Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed that very hour” (Matthew 15:22, 23, 28, NIV).

She refused to give up. She had heard of Jesus and knew that he could help her daughter. She sought him out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

At first there was no answer. “Jesus did not answer a word.” Sometimes our cries for help seem to go unnoticed. Sometimes it seems that Jesus isn’t listening to our requests. But he always hears.

Not getting a response, she kept crying out, trying desperately to get his attention. Her persistence got the attention of the disciples who wanted Jesus to do something about it. “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

The Canaanite woman refuses to give up. Jesus engages her in conversation, but doesn’t seem to give any hope that he will answer her request. Sometimes the answers to our cries for help seem to be delayed indefinitely. Everything suggests to us that the answer is no.

She continues to make her case. Her persistent cries for help—her persistent faith—have not gone unnoticed. Jesus is amazed to see such faith in a Canaanite woman, and is pleased to grant her prayer. “‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed that very hour.”

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.

Faithful God, give me a faith that refuses to give up. Hear my persistent cries for help. Meet me in my need and make me whole. Amen.

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Marvelous, Miraculous

Posted on January 22, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 22 

Marvelous, Miraculous

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 14:1-7 | Genesis 44:1 – 45:28 | Matthew 14:13-36 | Proverbs 4:11-13

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 14:13-36

“Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:33).

The gospels are filled with the marvelous and miraculous things that Jesus did. Those who grew up with these stories can sometimes become immune to the awe-struck wonder they must have produced in the disciples and in the observing crowds.

I find it interesting that these miracles happen in the course of Jesus trying to get away for some quiet time. “Jesus withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place” (13). Working through the grief of the loss of John the Baptist, he rightly sought a quiet place. Yet the crowd would not leave him alone: “the crowds followed him on foot” (14).

Yet, in spite of his intention to find a quiet place, Jesus responds to the crowd with compassion and spends the day healing the sick—a day of the marvelous, the miraculous. But there was more to come.

As evening approached, the disciples urged Jesus to send away the crowd. Jesus wanted to stretch the faith of the disciples, so he said to them: “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

The disciples marveled at such a request, “we have only five loaves of bread and two fish.” It seemed an impossible task.


Yet it was a simple matter for Jesus to feed the Five Thousand with the available bread and fish—there were even basketfuls of food left over.

Jesus sent off the disciples by boat, and he finally found the quiet place on a mountainside to be by himself and to pray.

Then he walked on water, scaring the disciples half to death: “Take courage, It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Impetuous Peter tried to follow Jesus by walking on the water. He started well, but eventually lost sight of Jesus for the wind and the wave. Jesus rescued Peter and encouraged his faith: “You of little faith, why do you doubt?”

In all of it, the disciples were beginning to realize just who Jesus is. The one who does these marvelous, miraculous things must truly be the Son of God (33).

Compassionate Jesus, Son of God, meet me in my need today. The wind and the waves threaten to overwhelm me, help me to keep focused on you and follow you. Strengthen my faith. Be with me today. Amen.

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How Long, O Lord?

Posted on January 21, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

January 21 

How Long, O Lord? 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 13:1-6 | Genesis 42:18 – 43:34 | Matthew 13:47 – 14:12 | Proverbs 4:7-10

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalms 13:1-6

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? . . . But I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6 NIV).

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.  

In those times, we too wrestle with our thoughts and emotions. It is easy to become discouraged—easy to become disheartened.

So how do we handle those times when God seems distant and the answer we seek never seems to come? The same way the psalmist does.

We lament. We openly and honestly cry out to God. We lay out our thoughts and feelings. We get it all out on the table.

We trust in his unfailing love. We can always rest in the character of God–even when we don’t sense his presence. This is a time to remember his names and attributes. This is a time to remember his promises. As we remember his greatness and rest in his love, despair turns to hope; rays of truth begin to push aside the darkness of our doubts and fear. 

In time we are able to sing, “I will sing to the LORD, he for he has been good to me.” Nothing breaks through the shadows of circumstance like worshiping God through singing.  As we sing and remember God’s goodness, we break free from discouragement. Questions begin to fade as the joy of the Lord becomes our strength.

Dear Heavenly Father, teach me to lament, to wait in hope, and to rejoice in you. Help me to refocus from my problems to your promise. Replace my worries with songs of your faithfulness. Let your light shine in my darkness. I wait on you. Amen.

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Where are the Faithful?

Posted on January 20, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 20 

Where are the Faithful?

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 12:1-8 | Genesis 41:17 – 42:17 | Matthew 13:24-46 | Proverbs 4:1-6

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 12

“Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to to their neighbor: they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts (Psalm 12:1-2, NIV).

Where are the faithful—the loyal? They seem to be missing from the human race. They’ve vanished. So claims the Psalmist.

The widespread human condition: the heart is deceitful, revealed by lips that lie and flatter and boast. We defend our actions, asserting our freedom and independence from God, asking “who is lord over us?”

Perhaps he will not notice our attempts to take advantage of the poor and needy. But the groans of the needy cry out. God will arise and protect (5).

In complete contrast to the faithless, with words that lie, flatter and deceive, are the words of the LORD: flawless, pure, refined as precious metals (6).

The wicked may strut while the human race celebrates the vile, the sinful, the unjust. Yet God is committed to keeping the needy safe protecting them from the advantage of those who would exploit their own power, position and privilege (5).

LORD God, arise, protect the poor and needy. Hear the groans. Meet the needs. May our hearts be turned toward truth and justice—and may our lips humbly reflect the truth. Let righteousness, justice and truth prevail. Amen.

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Bumper Crop

Posted on January 19, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 19 

Bumper Crop

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 11:1-7 | Genesis 39:1-41:16 | Matthew 12:46-13:23 | Proverbs 3:33-35

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 13:1-23

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23, NIV).

Every farm boy knows that farming is all about the harvest. You work all year long in hopes of a bumper crop. You work in hope of the hundred fold yield.

As a teacher you long for students to hear and put into practice the words that you speak.  To mix the metaphors, you teach so that your students will have a bumper crop of hearing and obeying.

But most years, conditions are not sufficient to produce the hundredfold yield, sometimes it is sixtyfold or thirtyfold. Sometimes the plants dry up and die.

Pesky birds can eat up the seeds that fall on the path—just as the Word of God can be stolen by the enemy of our faith. Trials can be as thorns that choke out and starve the plant. Prosperity, too, can function as rocky soil, keeping us from a fruitful harvest.

But then there is the good soil. It yields an abundant harvest of hearing and obeying the Word of God. It is the soil in which disciples flourish.

It is the fallow ground prepared by the plow of repentance. It is the productive ground that is warmed by the sun of God’s presence and watered by the rains of God’s Spirit. It is soil in which faith is enabled to cause the seed to sprout and grow—that has been readied to hear and obey.

May God till the soil of my heart and yours, that we may always be ready to hear and obey—that conditions will be right for abundant growth and a bountiful harvest.

God, prepare my heart to hear and obey today and always. Help me to resist the temptations that would bring drought and stunt growth. Help me to grow and produce an abundance of good fruit. Amen.

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Careless Words

Posted on January 18, 2023 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

January 18 

Careless Words

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 10:16-18 | Genesis 37:1 – 38:30 | Matthew 12:22-45 | Proverbs 3:27-32

Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 12:22-45

“A tree is recognized by its fruit . . . . For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:33-38 NIV).

Our words say a lot about who we really are on the inside. They are one of the fruits of our inner life. Jesus reminds us: “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Our words often say a lot more about us than we realize.

You expect an apple tree to bear apples, a peach tree to produce peaches and a pear tree to bring forth pears. Similarly, you expect an angry person to produce angry words, a dishonest person to speak lies, and a negative person to criticize and put down other people. You expect a loving person to speak loving, encouraging words.  A joyful person can be counted on to brighten up your day with words that bring you laughter.

Your words really do reveal your character.

To the follower of Christ, those words should be words that bless rather than curse; words that lift up rather than words that tear down.  Instead of gossip and slander, the changed heart speaks words of hope and love.

Jesus also reminds us that we are accountable for our words.  We will one day be accountable for every careless word we have spoken.  

Do your words reflect a heart being transformed into the likeness of Jesus? As he changes you from the inside out, you should expect the fruit of your words to be consistent with the transformed heart within.  Open your heart to Jesus.  Allow him to transform your heart into his likeness . . . and your tongue.

Heavenly Father, cleanse my heart and let my words reflect the transforming work of your Spirit. Produce in me good fruit and words appropriate to the life of Jesus within me. Amen.

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