Living Water

Oct. 27, 2014 Monday Message:

“You (who love the Lord) are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.” Psalms 1:3a VOICE

Little shrubs grow on the desert. But big trees grow near the source of water. Psalm 1 is telling us to ground ourselves near the source of all life, near God.

Jesus himself uses this ‘water’ analogy as he preaches, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” While we think of Jesus as the Living Water, Jesus was actually talking about filling each of us with the Holy Spirit. John 7:38 NIV

He taught the same thing to the Samaritan woman at the well. “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:10, 13-14 NIV

So plant your roots near the source, near the living water. That means stick with the Bible, the Church and your Christian friends. Don’t plant your roots carelessly in the world. If you tap the living water, you’ll never thirst again. Your road will lead to eternal life. That’s what Jesus said!

Norton Lawellin

Please join us as Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) and International Ministerial Fellowship (IMF) celebrate Rev. Norton Lawellin’s call to JICF ministry, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, at 1 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls has been gracious in offering their facility for the Ordination – 5212 41^st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417.

And join us for Sunday worship! JICF meets at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Nov. 2, I’ll open Acts Ch. 11, Peter reports to the church in Jerusalem.

Goodness and Mercy

Oct. 20, 2014 Monday Message:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Psalms 23:6a ESV

Goodness and mercy are both good things.

Goodness is when God gives you good stuff, showers you with blessings. Goodness is when God blesses you with what you don’t really deserve.

Mercy is different. Mercy is undeserved favor. Because of the sin on earth, none of us is innocent. But instead of seeking punishment and retribution, God shows mercy to the followers of his son Jesus. Mercy is God NOT giving you what you in fact DO deserve.

The Good News is that both God’s goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life – and not necessarily in a passive way. God’s blessings will chase you, run after you, pursue you when you least expect it. And when we err, his mercy will rescue us time after time.

At the end of the road, “We will dwell in the house of the Lord – forever.” Ps. 23:6b KJV

God IS good!

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. 26, Pastor Michael Pilla continues in Acts Ch. 10, Peter’s encounter with Cornelius.

Soul Restoration

Oct. 13, 2014 Monday Message:

“He restores my soul.” Psalms 23:3a ESV

Is your soul in good shape?

Our souls tend to look ragged from years of slugging it out as part of the human race. The Bible says that we all have come up a little bit short of God’s goals for our lives.

But there’s Good News! God is watching out for you. To all who believe – to all who claim YHWH God as their leader, their shepherd, God will use his restorative powers to put your soul back to the way that He intended.

Yes, with the LORD as your shepherd, you shall not want, and that truth is not only for this life, but for the next life as well. God’s desire is that none would perish, so he is personally handling the restoration of souls. As a believer, your beautifully restored essence – your soul – will live in the presence of God for all time. And that IS Good News!

“I will dwell in the house of the Lord – for ever.” Ps. 23:6b KJV

Norton Lawellin

Join us for worship - 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. 19, we’ll open up Acts Ch. 10, Peter’s strange dream. God sets aside some Old Testament laws and lets Peter know that taking the Good News to ALL nations includes Gentiles! See you at church!