This is the day the LORD has made!

Sept. 29, 2014 Monday Message:

“This is the day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24

Today it’s sunny, just a light breeze – all in all, a perfect fall day. It’s easy to get behind this Bible verse when we’re handed such beautiful weather. But our scripture goes much deeper than just the weather.

The psalmist is writing about a day in God’s creation, the fact that we have been created (given) for this day, and that God has a purpose for us today.

God does not make mistakes, and our God never embarks on a fool’s errand; so if you’re here on the earth today, it’s because God has a plan, and he knows things will be better his way. You are intentionally placed into the world – God caused it, and that’s a good thing!

So each day, rejoice and be glad that God has made a new day, and be ever-thankful that he chose to include you. The psalm ends, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Have a blessed day, this day that the LORD has made!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Oct. 5, Pastor Pilla continues in Acts 9, Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem.

Joy of the LORD

Sept. 22, 2014 Monday Message:

“Do not be grieved, for the Joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

Happiness comes and goes, and depends on circumstances or other people. When something good happens in your life, or when someone does you a favor, it brings a feeling of happiness. But bad things can also fall into your life. Sometimes people are unkind, and your happiness is replaced with sorrow and anger.

The Joy of the LORD, on the other hand, is permanent. When you and Jesus are best friends – when you trust in Jesus to redeem you, to give you a seat at the wedding banquet in heaven, then you know the Joy of the LORD.

Both bad things and good things will fall into your life. Some people will be loving, but others will be exasperating. Surprisingly, the joy of the true believer is largely unaffected by circumstances.

Even at his lowest, most unhappy point, Job didn’t give up hope. His joy came from knowing that God could and would rescue him from his circumstances. And God did indeed rescue Job.

Happiness is fleeting, but joy is permanent. I pray that we all could be filled with the peace of the LORD that passes all understanding. That gives me great joy!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Sept. 28, Pastor Pilla wraps up Acts 8, Philip and the Ethiopian church.

Share the Good News

Sept. 15, 2014 Monday Message:

After the incident on the road to Damascus – after being struck down and confronted by Jesus face to face – after his sight had been restored, “Immediately Paul proclaimed Jesus in the Synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’” Acts 9:20a ESV

Following his conversion and baptism, Paul spent some time with the Christians in Damascus. Paul needed to learn what they knew, their established Christian theology, but they also needed to hear from Paul. After all, Paul had just come face-to-face with the risen Christ Jesus.

Jesus had asked Paul point blank why he would persecute the Son of God. Paul’s life was radically transformed, his direction reversed. Instead of trying to exterminate Christians, Paul was now leading people TO Christianity.

Paul trained for a while before leaving on his mission trips. But the Bible says “immediately” was when Paul started sharing the Good News with others.

My prayer is that we could all follow in the footsteps of Paul. If we all are saved, then we should “immediately” begin sharing the Good News.

Countless lost souls need to hear what you could tell them.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Sept. 21, Pastor Pilla will be leading the men’s retreat, while I open up Acts ch. 8 at church, the Good News comes to Samaria. See you there!

Radical Transformation

Sept. 08, 2014 Monday Message:

 “The witnesses of Stephen’s execution flung their clothes at the feet of a young man by the name of Saul.” Acts 7:58 JBP

If you had been present at Stephen’s demise – the accusations, the mock-trial, the mob taking things into their own hands – you might have noticed someone on the sidelines, egging them on: Saul of Tarsus.

Saul was a well-educated Jew, determined to preserve the status quo. He refused to examine the writings of his Hebrew ancestors to see the hundreds of ways that Jesus fulfilled prophesy.

At the stoning of Stephen, Saul was part of the throng. “You need to throw the stones harder! You can’t get enough power with that jacket restricting your movement. Here, let me hold your coats!” Ultimately Stephen was stoned to death.

We all know the rest of the story. On the road to Damascus, Saul was struck blind, and Jesus appeared to him saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul was then led into town, his sight was restored, and he immediately was baptized and became the point person taking the Good News to the Gentiles. Today we know him as Saint Paul.

My point is that God can radically transform anyone, even someone complicit in a murder scheme. Paul’s mission had been to exterminate the followers of Jesus, and he was good at it. But God turned his life upside-down, and put Paul to work making disciples of all nations.

There is no sin so great that it cannot be forgiven by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Sept. 14, Pastor Michael Pilla examines the conversion of Saul.

Love One Another

Sept. 01, 2014 Monday Message:

 “Each of us will have to give a personal account to God.” Romans 14:12 NLT

As we move from this life to the next reality, each of us will face a day of judgment when we’ll be asked what we did with what we had been given.

Each of us has been filled with unique gifts, talents, interests and skills, and no two of us are identical. Therefore the work we’ve been called to do and our ability to fully accomplish the assigned tasks will also vary from person to person. So there isn’t just one right answer.

God wants us to do good things because we’re in love with His kingdom, and in love with the people He created. He wants our hearts to be right.

God doesn’t want us to do good only because we’re accountable to Him. We shouldn’t be performing tasks just because we know someday we’ll have to answer for our actions.

God wants us to do the right things for the right reasons. God wants to see “love” in action.

Then when asked, we’ll be able to answer not that we just did a job, but rather that we loved our neighbor, the way Jesus taught.

“A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you.” John 13:34a ESV

Norton Lawellin

Come worship with us a half-hour earlier! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) new service time 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Sept. 7, Pastor Michael Pilla looks into the stoning of Stephen. See you there!