pastor jeff's neighborhood

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 5
Faithful to the Unfaithful

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 135:15-21 | Hosea 1:1-3:5 | 1 John 5:1-21 | Proverbs 29:5-8

Today’s Scripture Focus: Hosea 1:1-3:5

The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” (Hosea 3:1 NIV)

Sometimes God calls a prophet to do something unusual as a prophetic action. Among the most difficult is the command of the Lord to the prophet Hosea. He is to marry Gomer, a prostitute who will repeatedly prove to be unfaithful. And he is to always take her back and love her faithfully.

In this extraordinary prophetic act, God is demonstrating his unrelenting faithfulness to his people in spite…

From Open Up Your Heart by jeff Syverson

December 4
You Are an Overcomer

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 135:8-14 | Daniel 11:36-12:13 | 1 John 4:1-21 |Proverbs 29:2-4

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 John 4:1-21

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NIV)

You are an overcomer. There is no reason to wallow in defeat. Your greatest enemy, the devil, is a defeated foe. Greater is the one who is in you (Christ) than he who is in the world (Satan).

True, your enemy does slander and accuse. But you don’t have to listen to his lies. You are a new creature, forgiven and redeemed. There is no reason for you to remain defeated by false guilt; no reason to hang on to something God has long ago…

December 3
Love in Action

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 135:1-7 | Dan 11:2-35 | 1 John 3:7-24 | Proverbs 29:1

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 John 3:7-24

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:16-19 NIV)

The identifying mark of a true follower of Christ is love.This love, always more than a feeling that comes and goes, is evidenced in practical ways through our actions.

Christ is our example. He gave his very life to prove his love for us. That kind of sacrificial love…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 2
Dearly Loved Children

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 134:1-3 | Dan 9:1-11:1 | 1 John 2:18-3:6 | Proverbs 28:27-28

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 John 2:18-3:6

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2 NIV)

A great theologian was asked what he thought was the most profound thought he had ever had. He replied, “Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.” The…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 1
Worldliness

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 133:1-3 | Dan 8:1-27 | 1 John 2:1-17 | Proverbs 28:25-26

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 John 2

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:15-17 NIV)

John’s insistence that we should not love the world or anything in the world is easily misunderstood or misapplied. For some it signals a dualistic way of life that views life in categories where spiritual is prized over earthly, sacred is valued and secular is rejected. This rejection fails to recognize that “the Earth is the Lord’s…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 30
Real Fellowship

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 132:13-18 | Daniel 7:1-28 | 1 John 1:1-10 | Proverbs 28:23-24

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 John 1

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3-4 NIV)

Fellowship is more than casual conversation over coffee and cookies. Fellowship is the deep connectedness we have with one another because of our common bond, our relationship with Christ. That isn’t to say that the casual conversation is unnecessary or unimportant, but true fellowship will always go deeper.

True fellowship is our partnership and connectedness because we have a relationship with Christ. He is the common link that brings us together whatever our differences may be. The body of Christ…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 29
Trouble

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 132:6-12 | Daniel 6:1-28 | 2 Peter 3:1-18 | Proverbs 28:21-22

Today’s Scripture Focus: Daniel 6

“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” (Daniel 6:22 NIV)

“It’s a great comfort to know that God’s faithful people have always been in trouble. In fact it’s the sure sign we’re following God, and not men.” –Lloyd Ogilvie–

King Darius recognized Daniel’s integrity and his excellence in everything he did. He had promoted him already to become one of the three administrators over his kingdom. Daniel had so impressed King Darius that he intended to set him over the whole Kingdom.

Daniel’s life was a beacon of integrity…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 28
The Power of a Good Reputation

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 132:1-3 | Daniel 5:1-31 | 2 Peter 2:1-22 | Proverbs 28:19-20


Today’s Scripture Focus: Daniel 5

There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.” (Daniel 5:11-12 NIV)

Confronted by a mystery that could not be solved by the wisest…

November 27
Everything We Need

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 131:1-3 | Daniel 4:1-37 | 2 Peter 1:1-21 | Proverbs 28:17-18

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Peter 1:2-8

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 26
Cast All Your Cares

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 130:5-8 | Daniel 2:24-3:30 | 1 Peter 4:7-5:14 | Proverbs 28:15-16

Today’s Scripture Focus: I Peter 4:7-5:14

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 4:6-10 NIV)

What do you do when…