Change Brings Fruit (Mar 18)

Posted on March 18, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 40:11-17 | Numbers 26:52-28:15 | Luke 3:1-22 | Proverbs 11:16-17

Today’s Scripture Focus: Luke 3:1-22

“He [John] went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” Luke 3:3

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Luke 3:8

Repentance is all about change. To repent is to change one’s mind about sin, which leads to a change of direction and behavior. Ultimately it brings a fruitful life: a Christ-like life. If you don’t change, you will never grow and you will miss out on the abundant life that could be yours.

Some resisted change. John’s message was harsh to those he called “a brood of vipers”: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our Father,’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (8-9). To resist the change God intends for your life is to miss out on the fruit he intends to produce in and through you.

We should not presume that we’ve gone far enough with God. We should not presume that he doesn’t want to bring further growth in our lives. We all have so far to go in our pursuit of living like Jesus.

Don’t resist God. Don’t resist the changes he wants to bring into your life to make you more like Jesus. Don’t be afraid of the change that comes from repentance. It is the way to a fruitful, abundant life.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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A Life of Devotion (Mar 17)

Posted on March 17, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 40:6-10 | Numbers 26:1-51 | Luke 2:36-52 | Proverbs 11:15

Today’s Scripture Focus: Luke 2:36-52

Luke 2:36-37 (ESV)
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, [37] and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

Anna turned a tragedy into an opportunity to serve God. She had been married only 7 years when her husband died, leaving her in a difficult situation. What would she do?

She turned the difficult situation into an opportunity to serve God. She spent the rest of her life (84 years of it) developing her walk with the Lord. She focused her life on fasting and prayer at the temple.

Some might have grown bitter. Others would have felt hopeless. She chose to speak with God about her struggles. And that conversation led to a life of devotion. That life of devotion led to the blessing of being one of the first to see and recognize young Jesus as the promised Messiah; to praise God and tell others what she had seen.

What are you struggles? Take them to the Lord in prayer. Develop your relationship with Him. After years of intimate conversation, you too may develop a life of intimacy like Anna. You too may gain the insight and discernment of one who has long walked with God.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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Waiting and waiting and waiting (Mar 16)

Posted on March 16, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 40:1-5 | Numbers 24:1-25:18 | Luke 2:1-35 | Proverbs11:14

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 40:1-5

“I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip. He taught me how to sing the lastest God-song, a praise-song to our God. ” (Psalm 40:1-3a, The Message)

I waited and waited and waited. Waiting for God’s answer seems overwhelming sometimes.

God’s timing and our timetable don’t ever seem to match. We find ourselves at the point of despair–the slimy pit filled with mud and mire (vs. 2). Just about to give up. Sure that we’ve been abandoned.

Then God shows up. He does hear us. He does listen to our cries. He hears and finally answers our prayers.

He stands up on a solid rock and steadies us to make sure we don’t slip back into the slimy pit of despair. He gives us a new song. We can sing again.

Hold on to hope. Continue to cry out to God. He is listening. When the time is right, he will hear and answer. Even now I hear the faint sound of a new song off in the distance. Do you hear it?

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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When Donkeys Talk

Posted on March 15, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 39:7-13 | Numbers 22:21-23:20 | Luke 1:57-80 | Proverbs 11:12-13

Today’s Scripture Focus: Numbers 22-23

“Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come to block your way because you’re getting way ahead of yourself. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn’t, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off.” (The Message)

God is very creative in communicating with his people. But when God starts to speak to you through a donkey, you know you are in trouble. God’s servants, especially prophets or preachers, are wise to learn the lessons of Balaam.

Don’t let people influence you–whether through money or power or position–to compromise your message. There are those who would like to influence your message–to make it more comfortable. Balaam knew that he would prove a false prophet if he didn’t say exactly what God wanted him to say. There is no place for changing or compromising the message.

Don’t get ahead of yourself. Do what God wants you to do when he wants you to do it. Don’t run ahead or behind God and his leading. You’ll only get yourself in trouble.

Don’t forget to take the time to develop your “spiritual ears and eyes” to hear his voice and see his working. Ministry requires sensitivity to God’s voice. It also requires us to see where he is at work that we can join in him in the work. It has to be embarrassing to have God speak to you through a donkey. Keep your spiritual eyes and ears open. Don’t miss out on all he has to say, or on all he is doing.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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Truly Blessed (Mar 14)

Posted on March 14, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 39:1-6 | Numbers 21:1 – 22:20 | Luke 1:26-56 | Proverbs 11:9-11

Today’s Scripture Focus: Luke 1:26-6

Luke 1:18-20 (NIV)
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Blessed indeed. A young Jewish woman in her day could hope for nothing greater than to be the mother of the promised Messiah. Mary was chosen by God to do the impossible: to become mother to the Son of God.

Why Mary? The text hints at some of the reason God chose her. She was humble. She was obedient. She trusted God to fulfill the promise. She was a woman who knew how to pray and how to praise. She was willing.

Her beautiful song of praise says much about her intimate knowledge of God. She found joy in her relationship with one who is holy, mighty, merciful and filled with grace and blessing.

Are you a willing servant? Are you willing to suffer disgrace? Are you willing to take on a task that seems impossible?

Mary was willing to serve God in any capacity. She was willing to be a servant. God is looking for that same attitude of humility expressed in availability.

Let him know you are willing. He is always looking for humble, willing servants.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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Giants in the Land (Mar 9)

Posted on March 9, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 37:12-20 | Numbers 11:24 – 13:33 | Mark 14:22-52 | Proverbs 11:1-3

Today’s Scripture Focus: Numbers 11:24-13:33

“‘We should take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it’. But the men that were with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are . . . we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

They were standing at the doorway to the Promised Land. On the other side was a land flowing with milk and honey; a land of abundant produce. Would they step into the promise by faith, or would they doubt and lose out on the promise?

Twelve spies went into the land. Ten came back filled with doubt. Only 2 came back filled with faith and courage. Though they saw the same things and agreed that the land was indeed everything that God had promised, many saw the difficulties ahead and felt overwhelmed. Caleb and Joshua, however, believed that God would enable them to take the land.

The report was passed on to the people, and the people sided with the 10 who doubted, not with the 2 who had faith. Because of that, a whole generation missed out on the promise. It could have been theirs, but they refused to enter in because of their lack of faith.

Caleb and Joshua suffered the consequences of the doubt and unbelief of others; they too had to wander aimlessly in the wilderness for 40 years. But ultimately their faith was rewarded.

Some see the Promised Land. Others see only the giants. Some see the possibilities. Others see only the obstacles. Some enter into the promise. Others refuse the good things that could be theirs and wander aimlessly in doubt–missing out on the good gifts that were intended for them.

Don’t miss out. “We should go and take possession of the Land, for we can certainly do it.”

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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Waiting in Delight (Mar 8)

Posted on March 8, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 37:1-11 | Numbers 10:1-11:23 | Mark 14:1-21 | Proverbs 10:31-32

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 37:1-11

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord and trust in him and he will do this . . . Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;” (Ps 37:4-5, 7, NIV)

Delight yourself in the Lord, trust in him, commit your way to him . . . and wait. These are the instructions given to the one who would be rewarded the “desires of his or her heart.” We would prefer to receive the “desires of our heart” right away, but often that is not the way it works.

Being still and waiting on the LORD is the soil in which delight sprouts and grows. It is the good soil which ultimately produces the “desires of one’s heart.” In the process of waiting and praying, we are transformed, and so are our desires. Selfish, foolish, worldly and sinful desires are stripped away by time spent in the presence of the LORD. Motives are tested; faith is refined. The desire that remains is in keeping with God’s best for us.

Yes, he ultimately gives us the desire of our heart, but that desire may need to be refined. That process requires waiting on the LORD and learning to trust him. It also requires surrender to his will: “Commit your way to the Lord.”

God desires intimate fellowship with you. You are his child created to find delight in Him. Know that as you delight yourself in Him–as you wait and pray and enjoy the fellowship–he is preparing you for that which your heart truly desires.

Don’t give up. Don’t worry about others. Just wait patiently, and find great joy and delight in your intimate walk with God. He delights in you. He will become your heart’s greatest desire and fulfill the true desires of your heart.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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Contrast (Mar 7)

Posted on March 7, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 36:1-12 | Numbers 8:1 – 9:23 | Mark 13:14-37 | Proverbs 10:29-30

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 36

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep.”

The psalmist begins by giving us a message about the sinfulness of the wicked, but soon finds himself awestruck by the ultimate contrast: the glory of God.

The wicked person is described as one with whom there is no fear of God before their eyes. In other words, they live without the reverent awe that one should rightly have of God. Instead, pride is their fall: “in their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.”

The heart of the wicked infected by pride leads to deceitful and wicked speech; and the folly of sinful ways.

In complete contrast, stands the character of God in the splendor of his holiness.

“Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep.”

Therefore those who love God can take refuge in “the shadow of your wings.” and “feast on the abundance of your house.” The righteous can drink at the river of delights. He is the fountain of life, and in His light, we see light.

Meditating on the greatness of God refreshes the psalmist. His concerns about the wicked begin to melt away in the beauty of God’s righteous character. He has found a place of refuge from the hand of the wicked. Surely God will bring protection. Surely God in his justice will do what is right with the wicked.

Sometimes we, too, are concerned about the evil of this world–sometimes hurt by wicked actions or deceitful speech. In those times, we run to the one who is faithful and find refuge in the shadow of his wings.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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The Voice of the Lord (Mar 6)

Posted on March 6, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 35:19-28| Num 6:1-7:89 | Mark 12:38-13:13 | Proverbs 10:27-28

Today’s Scripture Focus: Numbers 6:1 – 7:89

“When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.” Numbers 7:89 NIV

In the midst of all the lists in Numbers it is easy to miss the little gems like this description of Moses’ prayer life.

We know that Moses met regularly with the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. It was a place for anyone to “inquire of the Lord” (Ex. 33:7), but when Moses went there something special happened that drew people’s attention. “As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. (Ex. 33:9-10).

Moses had an unusual intimacy with God: “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend (Ex 33:11).

Where did this unusual intimacy come from? Note that Moses went to the tent, expecting to speak and hear from the LORD. He came in faith, believing that he would have an intimate conversation with the LORD. Moses was one who pursued intimacy–and sought for a manifestation of God’s glory (Ex. 34). Those who seek him diligently and expectantly are the ones most likely to find the intimate place with the Father.

Also, we know that such intimacy requires daily conversation. Face to face conversation leads to friendship. Continued cultivation of that relationship leads to deeper and deeper intimacy.

Open your heart to Jesus, pour out your heart to Him. Come expecting to hear the voice of the LORD. Remain there quietly and don’t be surprised to hear the “still small voice”–the gentle whisper of the Spirit. Don’t hurry off, take the time to develop intimacy. Enjoy that time in His presence, allow your “tent of meeting” experiences to become an everyday “face to face” conversation.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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Amazed, Delighted or Afraid? (Mar 5)

Posted on March 5, 2013 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 35:11-18 | Num 4:1-5:31 | Mark 12:18-37 | Proverbs 10:26

Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 12:18-37

“And they were amazed at him.” 12:17
“And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.” 12:34b
“The large crowd listened to him with delight.” 12:37b

Mark recounts a series of dialogues between Jesus and the religious leaders over various issues. It begins with the question, “by what authority are you doing these things?” This leads to questions regarding paying taxes, marriage at the resurrection and the greatest commandment. Jesus answers each question with unusual wisdom. In each case he demonstrates his authority by his answers and the manner in which he speaks.

Then Jesus asks a question. It puts the whole thing in perspective. Applying the words of David in the Psalms to himself,, he clearly points out his authority as the son of God (35-37). The crowds listened with delight, while the religious leaders feared him and plotted his arrest.

How do you react to the wisdom of Jesus? Do you question and resist his authority over your life (preferring your independence)? Do you fear what he might say?

We do better to stand amazed at his wisdom (17) and to delight in what he has to say (37). There is no good reason to fear what he has to say–no good reason to reject or resist it. Yes, it threatens our independence–it crushes our pride as we give over rule of our kingdom to Him.

Feel free to bring your questions to Jesus. Look to him for wisdom. Stand amazed and delight in his teaching. It brings light; it brings life.

With Joy,

Pastor Jeff

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