Retreats

Posted on May 25, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Retreats

I will be hosting two retreats later this summer in Southern California. Come and be refreshed–come to rekindle the flame of your passion for God. You can find more information and register online at http://www.joyinthehouseofprayer.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Make Your Home in Me (May 25)

Posted on May 25, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

May 25
Make Your Home In Me

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 72:15-20 | 2 Samuel 7:1-8:18 | John 14:15-31 | Proverbs 15:33

Today’s Scripture Focus: John 14:15-31

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23 NRSV)

Lord, make my heart your home. Is that the cry of your heart? Do you long for the intimacy with God that Jesus describes in our text?

Jesus tells us that intimacy with God comes through expressing our Love for God through obedience to his word and will. “Those who love me will keep my word and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” As we express our love for God through obedience, he pours out his love into our hearts. God comes and make his home with us.

[Excerpt from Open Up Your Heart: 365 Daily Devotions by Jeff Syverson. It is available at Amazon.com]

365 Daily Devotions to encourage you in your daily time with God

365 Daily Devotions to encourage you in your daily time with God

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CODYK0C/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

David Danced (May 24)

Posted on May 24, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. The e-book is now available at Amazon.com.

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. The e-book is now available at Amazon.com.

May 24
David Danced

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 72:8-14 | 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23 | John 13:31-14:14 | Proverbs 15:31-32

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23

David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. [14] David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:5,14 NIV)

Worship is a time for celebration. It is a time for us to break out the instruments and sing with all our might. It is not a time for half-hearted singing or mumbling words. It is a time for us to enter in with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

—————

There is often a temptation to judge others during worship—their attitudes, their behaviors.  This is a dangerous distraction that keeps us from worshiping God as we ought.  Don’t worry about other people. Focus on God and worship him with all your might.

[Excerpts from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson, The full devotional and 364 others–one for each day of the year–is available at Amazon.com.]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CODYK0C/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Humble King (May 23)

Posted on May 23, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 72:1-7 | 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39 | John 13:1-30 | Proverbs 15:29-30

Today’s Scripture Focus: John 13:1-30

When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:12-15 NIV)

He was clear about his position. “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.” But that didn’t keep the King of Kings and Lord of Lords from taking the place of a servant.

He would demonstrate his love for them and give them an unforgettable lesson in humility. The King, the Lord, the Teacher would wash the feet of his subjects, his servants, his students.

The way of greatness in the kingdom is found in the towel. It is the way of the King who humbles himself to meet the needs of the servant. It is an example he intended for us to follow.

[These excerpts are from Open Up Your Heart: 365 Daily Devotionals by Jeff Syverson. The whole devotional, along with one for each day of the year, is found at amazon.com.]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CODYK0C/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Out of the Shadows (May 22)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
Quote from Open Up Your Heart, 365 daily devotions by Jeff Syverson. Available at Amazon.com

Quote from Open Up Your Heart, 365 daily devotions by Jeff Syverson. Available at Amazon.com

May 22 Out of the Shadows

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 71:19-24 | 2 Samuel1:1-2:11 | John 12:20-50 | Proverbs 15:27-28

Today’s Scripture Focus: John 12:20-50

Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they are going. Put your trust in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of the light.”(John 12:35-36 TNIV)

Jesus came as the Light of the world to bring us out of the darkness and into the light. His signs showed forth the glorious light that we might believe. Yet people reacted in different ways to the light. Some were hard-hearted; some half-hearted; but others were whole-hearted in their response. . . (Excerpt from today’s devotional, read the whole thing in Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson, now available at Amazon.com).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CODYK0C/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Extravagant Worship (May 21)

Posted on May 21, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
This quote from Jeff's Devotional book, Open Up Your Heart. It is now available at amazon.com

This quote from Jeff’s Devotional book, Open Up Your Heart. It is now available at amazon.com

May 21
Extravagant Worship

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 71:15-18| 1 Samuel 29:1-31:13| John 11:54-12:19| Proverbs 15:24-26

Today’s Scripture Focus: John 11:54-12:19

“Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.” (John 12:2-3 The Message)

Mary, one who was already given to enjoying Jesus presence, in this case goes a step further. She enters into extravagant worship. She anoints Jesus feet with an expensive perfume—even wiping his feet with her hair. In this beautiful, expensive and extravagant act she expresses her love and devotion to Jesus. She went the extra mile—her worship was costly. You can be sure that the beautiful aroma of the act of worship went beyond the room and into the presence of the Father. Extravagant worship always does.

(excerpt from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. The whole devotional and 364 others are now available for kindle at Amazon.com)

Open Up Your Heart

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sometimes God Waits (May 20)

Posted on May 20, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood
The full devotional and 364 others is found in "Open Up Your Heart" now available on Amazon.

The full devotional and 364 others is found in “Open Up Your Heart” now available on Amazon.

 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 71:9-14 | 1 Samuel 26:1-28:25 | John 11:1-53 | Proverbs 15:22-23

Today’s Scripture Focus: John 11:1-53

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” (John 11:5-7a ESV)

Sometimes God waits. Sometimes this is because he wants to bring greater glory. Sometimes it is because he wants to stretch our faith and teach us to trust him more deeply. Sometimes it is because he loves us and has something he wants to accomplish in our lives that he requires us to wait. [excerpt from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson, kindle version available at Amazon.com]

 

 

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mercy Triumphs (May 19)

Posted on May 19, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 71:1-8 | 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44 | John 10:22-42 | Proverbs 15:20-21

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 24-25

“You are more righteous than I…you treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today.” (1 Samuel 24:17-19 TNIV)

David had his chance. He had been chased by Saul and his armies for a long time now. And now Saul entered the same cave that David and his men had made their place of refuge. David was encouraged by his men to take the opportunity to kill Saul while he had the chance.

Instead of taking things into his own hands, David leaves judgment to the Lord.
(Excerpt from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson)

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. Available on Amazon.com

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. Available on Amazon.com

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Good Shepherd (May 18)

Posted on May 18, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 70:1-5 | 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29 | John 10:1-21 | Proverbs 15:18-19

Today’s Scripture Focus: John 10:1-21

“The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3b-4 TNIV)

Welcome to the sheep pen. You have heard the voice of the Shepherd and have entered through the gate to life lived to the full.

The good shepherd, Jesus, knows your name. He knows you intimately and fully. He loves you completely—so much so that he laid down his life so that you can live. He calls you by name to follow him into life as it was meant to be: life in green pastures; life lived to the full. (excerpt from “The Good Shepherd” from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

Excerpt from Pastor Jeff's Open Up Your Heart, available now at amazon.com

Excerpt from Pastor Jeff’s Open Up Your Heart, available now at amazon.com

 

Pastor Jeff’s devotional book is now available for kindle at Amazon.com.

Open Up Your Heart

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Speculation or Expectation (May 17)

Posted on May 17, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 69:29-36 | 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15 | John 9:1-41 | Proverbs 15:15-17

Today’s Scripture Focus: John 9:1-41

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:2-3 ESV)

The disciples saw an opportunity for speculation. Jesus saw an opportunity for expectation.

Jesus and his disciples saw a man blind from birth. The disciples began speculating about it. They wanted to know why he was born blind. Was it because his parents sinned or because of his sin? Jesus viewed it from a whole different perspective; he looked at the potential of the situation to bring glory to God. [excerpt from today’s devotional from Open Your Heart]

From "Open Up Your Heart" by Jeff Syverson. Available on Amazon.com

From “Open Up Your Heart” by Jeff Syverson. Available on Amazon.com

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment