Psalms 90 - Restoration

April 24, 2017 Monday Message:

“Fill us each morning with your constant love, so that we may sing and be glad all our life” Psalms 90:14 GNT

Interestingly, Psalm 90 is credited to Moses. We don’t know if Moses actually wrote these words or if scholars took thoughts and phrases from the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible, and later assembled this prayer. There was no alphabetic script in Moses’ day.

But the theme is like many other Psalms. God’s priority in the Israelites’ lives had slipped – they are far from God, so God is withholding protection of Israel, most likely from the Babylonians.

Then the Jews wake up – they realize that they need to return to God, get closer to God. They’ve been trying to honor God, and the question of the day is, “How much longer, God, will your anger last? Have pity, O Lord, on your servants!” Psalms 90:13

Surprisingly, this story from Moses over 3,000 years ago is applicable today. Every day you can turn on the news and observe people in a lot of trouble because they’re far from God. The good news is when someone returns to God, and their life turns around. God is in the restoration business.

I checked a number of Bible translations, and God’s love for us is described as constant, faithful, satisfying, steadfast and unfailing. The Hebrew word is “hesed,” sometimes translated, “everlasting lovingkindness.”

If only we could love God as much as He loves us.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers Sunday, April 30, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Jesus cooks breakfast for the disciples on the beach, and teaches about faith and commitment. I’ll have the fish! See you at church!

Psalms 89 - Hope in the Kingdom

April 17, 2017 Monday Message:

“One of David’s family will always be king, as long as there are skies above us!” Psalms 89:29

Many psalms were written by David, but Psalm 89 was written by Ethan the Ezrahite ABOUT God’s anointed King David, and about God’s Kingdom, both in heaven and on earth.

The prophesy in verse 29 was fulfilled! We know that Jesus, our King of kings, in his earthly form, was a descendant of King David. Of course Jesus is our King for all time – God’s promise is forever – God’s not about to change his mind!

This gives us hope. A lot can go wrong in this world, but God is like a rock – steady, unchanging, the same day after day. If God promised to take care of us and meet our needs, it will be done. If Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for us in the Kingdom, count on it!

I recently overheard a couple of pastors talking. One asked, “How’s your day going?”

The other replied, “Great! I’m going to heaven!”

For me, that says a lot! Many things will go on in our lives – good things, bad things, things we really like, things we detest – it’s like a circus happening all around us! In the long run, most of it doesn’t really matter. Most of what happens has no eternal significance. Just know that God doesn’t change, and focus your eyes on the prize: “Eternity in the presence of the Father.”

God is forever, and Jesus is forever. “Because I (God) am holy I will not lie to David. His descendants will always continue, and his kingdom will go on as long as the sun shines.” Psalms 89:35b-36

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers Sunday, April 23, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Following the resurrection, we meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus. See you at church!

Psalm 22 Revisited - Resurrection!

April 10, 2017 Monday Message:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalms 22:1 NIV

This is Holy Week, when we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection. Jesus spoke the words from Psalm 22 right before he died on the cross. As Jesus is nearing the end of his human life and the Great Exchange has placed the sin of the world on his shoulders, any observer might believe that God has truly abandoned him.

But as Tony Campolo preached in his famous sermon, “That was Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!” Jesus knew the rest of the story. As Psalm 22 progresses, David’s writings turn from detailing tribulation into extreme optimism and faith in action. David turns depression into evangelism: (v22) “I will declare your name, God, to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.” Jesus, being God, already knows that Sunday’s comin’!

Our lives are sometimes like that. Some days it seems that everything is going wrong. People have it in for you, or so it seems. But as surely as Jesus rose from the grave, let me assure you that Sunday will come into your life. Jesus has good things in store for his people. As he ascended into heaven, he promised to prepare a place for us – those “Christians” who put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus – those of us adopted into the Holy Family.

Everything will turn out OK – we’re with Jesus now!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla shares the Resurrection story.

Psalms 88 - Redemption Mission

April 03, 2017 Monday Message:

“Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.” Psalms 88:1 NIV

Immediately after acknowledging God as the only one who can radically transform our lives – the only one who can rescue us – Psalm 88 delves into an exhaustive list of everything that is wrong – all the problems in this life.

Most of the Psalm sounds like it was written by someone suffering from severe depression. Perhaps the author is injured or ill, and death looms on the horizon. It reminds me of Job’s predicament.

We should not be surprised. Jesus said that we will all experience tribulation in this world. But he goes on to say that “I, Jesus, have overcome the world.” John 16:33

So our day-to-day solution should be to trust in the Father, and to put our faith in his Son Jesus Christ. Our God is a God of second chances, and Jesus is the champion of love and forgiveness. Remember, his mission was redemption of mankind!

“May my prayer come before you, Lord; turn your ear to my cry.” Psalms 88:2

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla begins one week closer to Resurrection Sunday.