God's Mission Funding!

For Wednesday, August 5, 2026:

Luke 6:24 NLT: “What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.”

Certain traits seem to be typical for those who have wealth. They tend to hoard the money, desire money, and seek to obtain more and more money. Money itself occupies that person’s focus, and pursuit of more becomes their life’s work. Those traits aren’t on God’s agenda.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that Christians are inherently poor. God has granted some believers abundance so that we can do more of his work. We tithe to our local church, sometimes giving even more for special projects. We love our neighbors, seeing that their basic needs are met. We buy food for those who need help, and shoes for their children. Ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” He healed everyone, blessed the children and fed thousands of people when no food was available. Jesus always did the right things for the right reasons, expecting no reward other than a smile from his Father!

Like Jesus, Christians don’t expect a reward for doing the right thing, but our efforts will be acknowledged in the Kingdom. Kindness only takes a moment, but our rewards are eternal. Be on the right side of God’s value system. When in doubt, just do what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Beat the Heat!

For Tuesday, August 4, 2026:

Luke 6:22 NLT: “What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.”

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount. People want to know, in God’s future, where do I stand? How will my life turn out? I believe that Jesus’ primary motive was to communicate truth. He calls himself “Son of Man,” but he’s really the “Son of God.” He has the actual truth. He has the inside scoop!

Many people think more highly of themselves than they ought. We like to think that we have all the answers, but we don’t know more than Jesus. Loyal disciples will be hated and excluded from things. Others will make fun of believers, mocking them and cursing their existence. Apparently, it won’t be easy to follow God’s Son!

Know that hate from the general public results in blessings from above if we remain stedfast. Our reward comes in the next reality. This life lasts perhaps 60, 80, 100 years, but our next life is eternal.

It’s worth taking a little heat now, to ensure we won’t feel any later!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Flip the Script!

August 3, 2026, Monday Message:

Luke 6:21 NLT: “God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.

God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.”

In this scripture, Jesus continues teaching the Beatitudes, truth about life after this life. He says that those who are loyal to God’s Son will experience a much better life in the next reality. This always reminds me of Jesus saying the first will be last and the last will be first. So if you are hungry in this life, your plate will be full in the next. If life has you down and depressed, laughter will fill your Kingdom days. As a general rule, bad stuff will be corrected and only goodness will survive in God’s Kingdom.

A reservation in the Kingdom is the result of God’s kindness, undeserved favor from above. This gift of grace is given to those with unflinching allegiance to the Son. We’re saved through our faith.

In the next reality that we call Heaven, God flips the scene. Those who were persecuted on this planet will receive God’s best in his Kingdom. Rescued Christian believers will be free of Satan, his demons and sin’s temptations. The Lord’s Prayer asks him to, “Deliver us from evil.”

In the life after this life, believers will have been delivered!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church