Love & Mercy!

For Saturday, August 22, 2026:

Romans 9:16 NLT, Paul testifying to the church in Rome: “So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.”

God is good. God looked at mankind, his creation, and declared it to be very good. Not that WE were particularly good, but that his act of creation was very good. God loves us and he’s not about to change his mind. God is merciful, loving us in spite of our shortcomings.

If we could earn our way into the Kingdom, no one would make it because the Bible says that ALL have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, his goals for mankind. We are saved by grace, undeserved favor. Our faith in God’s sovereignty includes us among the faithful.

But make no mistake. Salvation is a gift from the Almighty. Unlike other religions, we can’t work for God’s acceptance. We can’t earn his love. Our God has chosen us! He’s a merciful God, and believers are the beneficiaries of his kindness and love!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Son of God!

For Friday, August 21, 2026:

Acts 3:22-23 NLT, Peter, preaching in the Temple: “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you. Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’”

Peter was speaking to a Jewish audience at the Temple, so quoting Moses, God’s man to lead the Jews out of Egypt, was normal and customary. It leant credibility to his greater message, that Jesus was the Messiah. These highly respected words of Moses summarized what Peter had been preaching.

Jesus was born to Jewish parents. Even observers who didn’t yet realize that he was the Messiah heard him speak and knew that he was some kind of heaven-sent prophet. Word-of-mouth was sufficient to attract huge crowds when Jesus would teach, so a great many learned the truth.

1 John 5:12 mirrors Moses’ message: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” The Bible is speaking of eternal life in the presence of out Lord. Basic Christianity is simple, and I would advise you to not overcomplicate it. The quality of your life after this life is dependent upon your relationship with Jesus, end of story.

A forthright decision in favor of our Savior takes only a moment, but has eternal ramifications. Have you made your decision for Jesus?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Final Restoration!

For Thursday, August 20, 2026:

Acts 3:21 NLT, Peter, preaching in the Temple: “For Jesus must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

How are you at planning for the future? It’s not my strength. When I visit the dental hygienist, they always want to set an appointment for next year. How would I know if I might have a conflict a year from now? A serious disease, a car could run a red light... I dunno. Anything is possible! I thank God daily (and fondly remember Steve Jobs) for including a perpetual calendar in my iPhone – with reminders!

On the other hand, God’s memory is flawless. True prophecies from God always come true. We get to watch God’s scenarios play out. The entire plan for planet earth, mankind, the fall, repentance, and forgiveness was conceived over 6K years ago. It will conclude when it’s time for the final restoration. God never forgets his plan!

Here’s what that final restoration will look like. God will first rebuild the New Heaven and the New Earth. Things will go back to the way they were originally designed, the way they should have been if mankind hadn’t loused everything up by sinning. We talk of dying and going to heaven, to the Kingdom, but that’s only temporary. Our final destination will be the New Earth. God can join us here and will walk alongside us. That’s what the Bible says.

Jesus will return at just the right time as a Savior/soldier on a white horse in the sky. The whole world will know when Jesus has returned, and we enter the time of judgment for all. At judgment, Jesus will advocate for the faithful by restating their total forgiveness. Demons will be driven out, and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire. Our old world, as we knew it, will have been transformed into a welcoming, safe eternal residence. If you’re a believer, there’s a room with your name on it! Godspeed!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church