Psalms 120 - Save me from Gossip

Nov. 27, 2017 Monday Message:

“Save me, Lord, from lying lips and deceitful tongues.” Psalms 120:2 NIV

In elementary school, I was taught, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I don’t think that’s quite true. Somebody trash-talking you behind your back can leave you in a world of hurt.

Some people just don’t ‘get’ their gossip factor, so they persist in it.

Example: Many people watch a football game on Sunday afternoon, and then spend the next week critiquing what happened. “I think the quarterback messed up the play. They shouldn’t have run that play in the first place. That coach has no business working in the NFL.” Everybody has an opinion on how the day should have gone. Sportscasters and radio show hosts – professional arm-chair quarterbacks – spend the next week criticizing athletes who generally aren’t present to defend themselves.

At least they’re well-paid for taking this kind of abuse. You and I are not, and as Christians with Jesus’ value system in place, we shouldn’t speak badly of others. In fact, we should campaign against gossip, and if someone gossips to us, we need to ask them to please stop. I really don’t want to hear someone’s bad opinion of a third party who can’t answer the charges.

My mother always taught me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I think that’s good advice.

Cruel words are crushing the psalmist, who writes, “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” The Lord is always the best place to turn when you need rescuing. Ps. 120:1

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla lead us through Advent - See you at church!

Psalms 119 - God's Law

Nov. 20, 2017 Monday Message:

“Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!” Psalms 119:5 NIV

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. It’s an acrostic poem, each section beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet – therefore there the 176 verses are divided into 22 sections.

The Psalm has a lot to do with God’s Law or Torah, stating, “Happy are those whose way is perfect,” which is an ideal goal, but the Bible also says that ALL have sinned and come up short. So let’s back up and look at this.

Before people become believers, they often behave badly. They don’t know what God’s Law is, or what it requires of them. So when they don’t hit the mark, they don’t care. It’s no big deal.

But after we learn the truth about God, his Law matters to us and we really try to get it right. Most of the time we succeed, but once in a while we still make a few mistakes. These shortcomings are called ‘sins.’

That is why God sent his Son Jesus to redeem us. God knows our heart, and when we truly believe, he wants to meet us in heaven. Jesus prepaid the penalty for the sins of all who would call him Lord. That way, believers can spend eternity in the presence of the Father.

“I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.” Ps. 119:8

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together. Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll wrap up 1 Cor. 15 this week, and then Pastor Michael Pilla will lead us through Advent and Christmas! See you at church!

Psalms 118 - Forever!

Nov. 13, 2017 Monday Message:

“His love endures forever.” Psalms 118:1b NIV

God’s desire is that none would perish. God loves mankind, his creation, made in his image, and he’s not about to change his mind. It’s ‘forever!.’

You can insert a whole bunch of ‘what-if’s’ if you like – what if I did this bad thing, what if I did that bad thing? – but God will still love you forever. If you’re ready to repent and return, God stands ready to welcome you back.

He protects us even when we don’t realize it. “What can mere mortals do to me?” Ps. 118:6b

We also have Jesus on our side. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Ps. 118:22a

Jesus taught us that when the prodigal son returned home, the Father ran down the road to meet him. The Father had been waiting for him, expecting him. The Father is expecting ALL of us!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Ps. 118:29

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla brings the message from God’s Word, with guest worship leader David Boeltl.

Psalms 117 - Great is God's Love!

Nov. 06, 2017 Monday Message:

“Great is God’s love toward us.” Psalms 117:2a NIV

In the original language, the word we translate ‘great’ or ‘very strong’ actually means ‘will win the war.’ And what a war we’re fighting!

From the beginning, when the serpent coerced Adam and Eve into doing that which was forbidden by God, mankind has been in a war that is far more serious than it often appears. We tend to look at sins as individual incidents, and think, “I might have been a little wrong, but basically I’m not a bad person.”

We need to remember that God doesn’t grade on the curve; God uses a pass/fail system, and the Bible says that we have all missed the mark.

But great is God’s love toward us. God’s desire is that none would parish, and God so loved the world that he sent Jesus – his only Son – so that all who would repent and return could have everlasting life. God IS in the rescue business!

My advice is to repent and return and then stick with Jesus. That’s God’s plan for mankind’s rescue, and “the Lord will always do what he has promised.” Psalms 117:2b

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll open 1 Cor. 15 where Paul outlines the basics of Christianity. See you at church.