A Beautiful Day Devotional Podcast

It's FRI-YAY with Pastor Jeff! As we wrap up Faith Question #16, we learn that only Jesus lived a perfect life, never sinning, and He came to save us by dying and defeating death. 1 Peter 2:22 "He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

Today, Pastor Jeff reminds us of this important truth from Faith Question #16: every human being sins—kids, adults, teachers, and even pastors. Because sin lives in every heart, the world can't be made right on our own, and that's why we need God's help. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Today, Pastor Jeff teaches that sin isn't just about what we do—it starts in our hearts, with what we think and desire, as Jesus explains in Mark chapter 7. That's why Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard our hearts, because everything we do flows from what's inside. Mark 7:20 20 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 

Today, Pastor Jeff reminds us that knowing the right thing to do but choosing not to do it is still sin. James 4:17 shows us that even doing nothing when we know the good matters to God. James 4:17 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

This week, Pastor Jeff explores Faith Question #16: What is sin? Sin is rejecting or ignoring God and His good law, showing us why we all need a Savior. 1 John 3:4   "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."

Today is FRI-YAY and Shout Out Day with Pastor Jeff as we wrap up Faith Question 15: Why does the law matter if no one can keep it? We'll celebrate the good news that the law points us to our need for a Savior—and Jesus brings us back to God. 1 Timothy 1:15   This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—and I am the worst of them.

Join Pastor Jeff as he talks about Faith Question 15 and how sin separates us from a holy God. We'll learn how God's law shows us His design for living and points us back to a close relationship with Him. Habakkuk 1:13a "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing."

Pastor Jeff shares that God's law reveals His perfect holiness, our sinfulness, and our deep need for a Savior. Because only God is holy and we all fall short, even our best efforts can't make us right without Him. Only through Jesus we are able.  Isaiah 64:6 "All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind."  

Join Pastor Jeff today as he shares Faith Question #15 and talks about God's holiness. We'll discover how God's perfect nature connects to His law and why it matters for our lives. 1 Samuel 2:2 "There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you! And there is no rock like our God."

This week, Pastor Jeff will talk about Faith Question 15: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose? We'll discover that God's law reveals His holiness and our need for a Savior, pointing us straight to Jesus. Romans 3:20 "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin."

Today is FRI-YAY and shout-out day. Pastor Jeff reminds us that while our Faith Question shows the hard truth about sin, it can feel like bad news at first. But the Bible points us to something even better—the BEST news ever that brings real hope and joy. - Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 15:22: "For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive."

Today, Pastor Jeff shares that we've all wished for a do-over after making the wrong choice, and even the apostle Paul admitted he struggled to do what was right. This shows that because of our sinful nature, we can't keep God's law on our own and can't fix our mistakes without His help. Romans 7:15 "I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate."

Pastor Jeff shares that talking about sin can feel uncomfortable, but it reminds us of an important truth—no one is perfect, and everyone messes up. That is why we need a Savior! Psalm 51:5: "Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me."

Pastor Jeff asks, "Have you ever played pretend?"—imagination is a gift from God, but pretending we don't have sin is something we should never do. God didn't create us unable to obey Him, but because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, we're all born in sin and need God's grace. 1 John 1:8 "If we say, 'We have no sin,' we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

This week, Pastor Jeff explores Faith Question #14: Did God create us unable to keep His law? The truth is no—God created us perfect, but because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, sin spread to all of us, leaving us unable to perfectly obey God on our own. Romans 5:12 "Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned."

Jeff Land talks with Grant Jacobson about the real challenges and unexpected beauty of parenting a child with autism—offering hope, faith, and encouragement for parents who feel overwhelmed or unsure. This episode reminds us that your child is not a mistake, you are not alone, and God is not surprised.

Today is FRI-YAY! And shout out day. Pastor Jeff wraps up Faith Question #13 and reminds us that since the Fall, no one can keep God's law perfectly—we all sin in what we do, think, and want. But God sent Jesus, who kept the law perfectly for us and made a way for us to be forgiven and saved. Matthew 5:17 "Don't think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill."

Today, we learn with Pastor Jeff that God's law isn't just about what we do—it also includes what we think. Even our thoughts matter to God, because He sees our hearts, not just our actions. Romans 8:7 "The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God's law. Indeed, it is unable to do so."

Today, Pastor Jeff reminds us that since the Fall, no one can keep God's law perfectly—not in our actions, choices, or even our thoughts. That's why salvation isn't something we earn by doing good things, but a gift of God's grace. James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all."

This week on the podcast, Pastor Jeff talks about Faith Question 13: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? The truth is, since the Fall, no one can—God's good law shows us how to live and also reminds us how much we need His grace. Psalm 19:7 "The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one's life. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise." 

This week, Pastor Jeff helps us explore Faith Question #13: Can anyone keep God's law perfectly? The Bible shows us that everyone sins—even the heroes of faith—so no one has ever been perfect. Romans 3:10 "None is righteous, no, not one… no one does good, not even one."

It's FRI-YAY with a special shout-out, and Pastor Jeff is wrapping up Faith Question #12 by remembering God's call to tell the truth and live with contentment instead of envy. Today we'll learn how Jesus understands our emotions and helps us handle feelings like jealousy in a way that honors God and keeps us from sin. James 3:16 "For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice."

In this episode, Pastor Jeff continues exploring Faith Question 12, focusing on the Tenth Commandment and God's call to live with contentment rather than envy. We'll learn how comparing ourselves to others can steal our joy and how thankfulness helps us remember the good gifts God has already given us. Galatians 5:26 "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

In today's episode Pastor Jeff explores what deceit really is—lying with our words or our actions by making something false seem true. We'll learn why deceit breaks trust, hurts others, and even harms our own hearts, keeping us from close and healthy relationships. Psalm 101:7 "No one who acts deceitfully will live in my palace; the one who tells lies will not be retained here to guide me."

This week, we explore what God requires in the Ninth and Tenth Commandments—calling us to tell the truth without deception and to live with contentment instead of envy. Today, Pastor Jeff talks about why God takes lying so seriously and how even small lies can poison our hearts, break trust, and hurt our relationships with others. Proverbs 12:22: "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but faithful people are his delight."

This week, Pastor Jeff explores Faith Question #12 - God calls us to speak truth without deception and to live with contentment instead of envy. As we look at the Ten Commandments, we see that they all point to the royal law of love—loving God and loving others—because God is love and we are created to reflect Him. James 2:8 "Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well."

Today is Fri-YAY! And shoutout day! Pastor Jeff wraps up our week on the 6th, 7th, and 8th Commandments, reminding us that God's commands teach us how to love Him and love others. Jesus showed us that every command matters, and when we choose to obey God and help others follow His ways, we honor Him. Matthew 5:19: "Whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Today, Pastor Jeff zooms in on the Eighth Commandment, reminding us that taking anything that isn't ours is wrong. God cares about our character and calls us to be honest in both big and small choices. Ephesians 4:28 "Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need."

This week, Pastor Jeff is exploring Faith Question #11 and what God asks of us in the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Commandments. Today, we focus on living purely and faithfully by filling our hearts and minds with God's Word. Psalm 119:9 "How can a young person keep their way pure? By keeping your word."

Today, Pastor Jeff talks about how what's in our hearts shapes how we treat others. Loving others like ourselves means remembering we don't know the whole story and choosing grace in our words and actions. Proverbs 14:21: "The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy."

Today, Pastor Jeff continues our series with Faith Question #11: What does God require in the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Commandments? We learn that God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Romans 13:9: "The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet,' and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself."

It is FRI-YAY! And shout out day! Today, Pastor Jeff wraps up Faith Question #10 by remembering that God calls us to worship Him on the Sabbath and to love and honor our parents. Through Jesus, we learn that when we believe in Him, we become part of God's family and God becomes our Heavenly Father. John 1:12: "But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name."

Today, we're learning with Pastor Jeff that obeying our parents isn't always easy, but it's one way we honor God and show Him love. God gave us parents to guide and protect us, and their rules and corrections are meant to help us grow wisely and safely. Colossians 3:20: "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."

Today, Pastor Jeff teaches that the Sabbath is a special time to slow down and joyfully focus our hearts on God, because worship is what we were created for. Psalm 95:6  "Come, let's worship and bow down; let's kneel before the LORD our Maker."    

Today we're learning with Pastor Jeff about the Fourth Commandment and the Sabbath—a special time God set apart for rest and worship. When we pause to rest and focus on God, we're saying with our hearts, "God, I trust You." Genesis 2:3: "God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation."

Pastor Jeff teaches today that God's commands aren't meant to stop our fun—they're meant to help us live the best life He designed for us. The Fourth Commandment reminds us to worship God, and the Fifth teaches us to love and honor our parents. Leviticus 19:3 "Each of you is to respect his mother and father. You are to keep my Sabbaths; I am the LORD your God."

Today is our first FRI-YAY of 2026! If you want Pastor Jeff to give you a shout-out in a future Fri-Yay episode, send us your name, age, and where you're from to creekkids@sugarcreek.net with the subject line Podcast Shout Out. Today is also the last day we explore our Faith Question: What does God require in the First, Second, and Third Commandments? Our Truth Bomb sums it up: That we know and trust God as the only true God. That we avoid all idolatry—never worship anything but Him. That we treat God's name with fear and reverence. Pastor Jeff shares how Jesus perfectly fulfilled each of these commandments. John 15:10 "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love."

For our Faith Question this week, we're learning that names are powerful. Today, Pastor Jeff reminds us that God's name is a strong tower—a place of safety, strength, and hope. We can trust Him completely. Proverbs 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.

Today, Pastor Jeff reminds us that God's name reveals who He is—holy, powerful, loving, and perfect—and deserves our honor. Psalm 99:3  "Let them praise your great and awesome name—He is holy."

This week, Pastor Jeff reminds us through our Faith Question and Truth Bomb that we were created to worship God. Romans 1:25  "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen."

Happy 2026! We're kicking off the new year with a fresh Faith Question and Truth Bomb: Faith Question: What does God require in the First, Second, and Third Commandments? Truth Bomb: Know and trust God as the only true God. Avoid all idolatry. Treat God's name with fear and reverence. Deuteronomy 6:13–14,  "Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you."

It's Christmas Eve! In our final episode of 2025, Pastor Jeff shares about some special visitors—the shepherds—and how they shared the good news of the birth of the King of Kings, our Messiah. Luke 2: 17-18 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  We'll resume our podcast on January 5, 2026.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

This Christmas week, Pastor Jeff continues sharing from Luke 2, highlighting the most important moment in history: the birth of Jesus. Luke 2:6-7 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

This Christmas week, Pastor Jeff shares from Luke 2—the story of Jesus' birth, our Messiah, and the true gift we celebrate this season. Luke 2:1-3 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

It's Fri-YAY and shout-out day with Pastor Jeff! Today, in our Christmas series, he shares from John 3:16—the shining "star" of the Christmas story that reminds us of God's amazing love. John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Today, Pastor Jeff talks about Christmas and bread—reminding us that every time we see bread this season, we can remember Jesus, the One who satisfies our spiritual hunger and gives us everlasting life. John 6:35 35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Today, Pastor Jeff talks about the Christmas color green and reminds us that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, leads us into green pastures. Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

Today, Pastor Jeff shares about the color white as he continues to share about the Christmas colors. Isaiah 1:18 18 "Come now, let us settle the matter,"     says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet,     they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,     they shall be like wool.

Today in our Christmas series, Pastor Jeff shares about the color red—found in ornaments, candy canes, and everywhere in between—and how it reminds us of Jesus, the true reason for the season! Matthew 26:28 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Today is FRI-YAY! and shout-out day. Pastor Jeff shares about roads and how Jesus is the only way to God the Father. John 14:6 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Pastor Jeff shares today about having crosses on a Christmas tree and why the cross is so essential for each of us. Philippians 2:8 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!