pastor jeff's neighborhood

September 9
Boasting in Weakness

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 102:18-28 | Isaiah 3:1-5:30 | 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 | Proverbs 22:28-29

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 11

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:30 NIV)

Most of us spend a lot of energy trying to keep up a good front– to appear strong. We try very hard to pretend that everything is perfect. We try very hard to hide our weaknesses. Paul said, “I boast in my weakness.”

A number of years ago I heard John Maxwell, a powerful communicator, share that one of his most dynamic messages was to a group of pastors when he spent the whole message sharing the worst mistakes he had made in ministry. They laughed and cried and related to him at a deeper level than they might otherwise have. Then they were ready to…

Quote from Open up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

September 8
Demolishing Strongholds

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 102:12-17 | Isaiah 1:1-2:22 | 2 Corinthians 10:1-18 | Proverbs 22:26-27

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV)

The enemy of our souls is sneaky. Knowing our weaknesses, he sets temptations before us. In our pain—our weakness—they appear to be castles of refuge, safety and pleasure. So we run to them to ease our pain, to meet our needs and desires or, sometimes, just for the fun of it.

The castle that promises pleasure becomes a prison from which we can’t seem to escape. We feel hopeless and defeated and wonder if we will ever find freedom and victory. Underneath the addictive behaviors are twisted patterns of thinking…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

September 7
Tired of Waiting

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 102:1-11 | Song 5:1-8:14 | 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 | Proverbs 22:24-25

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 102:1-11

Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. (Psalm 102:2 NIV)

Can you relate to the Psalmist? Have you ever had a time when you grew tired of waiting for the answer to your prayer? Maybe you are like me and you feel that way most every day.

It is so good to be able to just pour out our heart to God. It is good to let him know our struggles and frustrations. It is good to lament and tell him how we feel. Perhaps you can relate to the Psalmist’s description of waiting in prayer:

Because of my loud groaning…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

September 6
Oh Be Careful Little Eyes

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 101:1-8 | Song 1:1-4:16 | 2 Cor. 8:16-24 | Proverbs 22:22-23

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 101:1-8

I will set before my eyes no vile (wicked, vain, evil, worthless) thing. (Psalm 101:3 NIV)

Images are powerful. One ancient tradition says that a picture is worth a thousand words. Indeed, we know it is true. Television is a powerful medium. So are movies. So is the Internet. Each is powerful for good or for evil.

Many become captivated by images only to become addicted to them. The epidemic of internet pornography is one example (and it is an epidemic). I know one person who has placed this verse (Psalm 101:3) above his computer monitor as a reminder not to surf into sin. Not a bad idea.

But it happens in more subtle…

September 5
Shout for Joy

Scripture Readings for Today: Psalms 100:1-5 | Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14 | 2 Corinthians 8:1-15| Proverbs 22:20-21

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalms 100:1-5

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:1-2 NIV)

The most enthusiastic worship experience I’ve ever seen took place in the fall of 1987. I lived in Minnesota then. The Metrodome in Minneapolis was the site of the worship experience. For weeks leading up to the event, there was talk about the possibility of this event happening. As the day arrived, it was all that people could talk about. People waited in long lines in order to get tickets to be a part of the experience, but there were too many people and not enough seats. The rest of us had to worship at home in front of our TV’s.

Usually…

September 4
The Right Response

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 99:1-9 | Ecclesiastes 7:1 — 9:18 | 2 Corinthians 7:8-16 | Proverbs 22:17-19

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 7

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV)

How do you respond to your pastor’s message? It’s an important question. When God speaks to you through his word—and especially through the preaching of his word—how do you respond? Unless you respond—and respond rightly—you’ve missed out on a vital part of your worship experience.

Worship is our response to God’s glory. He is always the audience in worship. It’s easy to see how that works through singing. We sing to Him; praising for who he is and thanking him for what he has done. But the whole worship service is a response to God as he reveals himself to us…

September 3
Good Friends

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 98:1-9 | Ecclesiastes 4:1 – 6:12 | 2 Corinthians 6:14- 7:7 | Proverbs 22:16

Today’s Scripture Focus: Ecclesiastes 4-6

“Two are better than one…if one falls down, his friend can help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV)

It’s a dangerous thing to try to live the Christian life on your own. You really do need some friends for the journey; Friends who will be there to encourage you when you get down; Friends who will keep you accountable and speak the truth in love when you are tempted to fall; Friends who will be faithful even when you do fall; Friends who will accept you and love you through it all.

Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto, his faithful sidekick. Yet many today try to live the Christian life on their own, without a group of faithful friends to come alongside them to…

September 2
I’m Bored

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 97:7-12 | Ecclesiastes 1:1 – 3:22 | 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 | Proverbs 22:15

Today’s Scripture Focus: Ecclesiastes 1:1 – 3:22

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher “Utterly Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” “All things are wearisome; more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 8 NIV)

The Teacher is bored. “Everything is meaningless” “All things are wearisome.” He has tried stimulating every one of his senses with the best life could offer. Where did it take him? Nowhere. He was bored.

In these chapters, he describes a search for meaning in life through education, money and possessions, power, position, relationships (hundreds of them—the most beautiful women of all the earth), and the pursuit of pleasure. He had it all, by the world’s standards, and still he felt that he was coming…

From Today’s Devotional in Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

September 1
When God Asks the Questions

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 97:1-6 | Job 40:1 – 42:27 | 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 | Proverbs 22:14

Today’s Scripture Focus: Job 40-42

Job has asked his questions. He has finally said all that he could think of to say. Now he is waiting for the answers. Then something surprising happens. God shows up not to answer the questions, but to ask His own.

The questions that God asks are real “doozies”: Questions that only he can answer. Questions like: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?” “Who marked off its dimensions?” “Who stretched a measuring line across it?” God continues his questions for several chapters. Each is a question that no man could ever answer.

God answers Job’s questions not with answers, but with even more difficult questions.

I think…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

August 31
Eternal Glory

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 96:7-13 | Job 37:1 – 39:30 | 2 Corinthians 4:13 – 5:10 | Proverbs 22:13

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”( 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)

I love the phrase Paul uses to describe troubles: “Our light and momentary troubles.” Remember his light and momentary troubles? “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed” (4:8-10).

A few chapters later he further details his “light and momentary troubles”:

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged…