Psalms 68 - The Family of God

October 31, 2016 Monday Message:

“God sets the lonely in families.” Psalms 68:6a NIV

Your church should be like your second home, and your “church family” should be your new extended family. Some of us have earthly families; some of us do not. But God welcomes us ALL into HIS family with open arms. When you’ve been adopted into the Holy Family, that’s your forever home. Your best friends are there. It’s your sanctuary when the world around you is dishing out tribulation.

“From your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.” Psalms 68:10b

Jesus taught us to love each other, to care for each other, and to share. If someone in God’s family has been blessed with abundance, that’s so they can help fellow family members and others.

“Our God is a God who saves.” Psalms 68:20a

When we pass from this life to the next life, the whole family will get to see heaven from the inside. Jesus has made it so that we can spend eternity in the presence of the Almighty, and that’s really Good News!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, Paul deals with sin in the Corinthian church. See you there!

Psalm 67 - Pull Together

October 24, 2016 Monday Message:

“Pray for God’s blessings to continue and for everyone on earth to worship our God.” Psalms 67:7 CEV

In Psalm 67, God has shown favor to his people with a bountiful harvest. God has been kind and has blessed his people. Now that we can prove the God-potential, let’s get everyone on-board. Partnering with God is an awesome thing. God’s blessing on a nation will increase when the people are united and everyone is pulling in the same direction, God’s direction.

Jesus taught us to grow Christianity through attraction. Outsiders should be able to easily see the love in our fellowship, and then desire to be a part of what we have. Be joyful! The psalmist writes, “Be pleased and smile. Then everyone on earth will learn to follow you, and all nations will see...” from Ps. 67:1-2

In this time of political division in our country, it would be restorative to turn from our differences and, for a moment, celebrate the good things we have in common. Our country was founded by people who desired religious freedom. Declaring our independence, they wrote, “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights…” Our founding fathers acknowledged a creator who was good to us – perhaps we can all agree on that.

So put a smile on your face, sing a joyful song, and let’s all pull together with the positive values we share. Let’s all play for God’s team.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, we’ll unpack Martin Luther and the Reformation – Getting the church back on track! See you there!

Psalms 66 - Repent First, Then Return

October 17, 2016 Monday Message:

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalms 66:18 NIV

“God has no wish that anyone should be destroyed. He wishes that all should come to repent.” from 2 Peter 3:9 JBP

The Hebrew language uses the word “teshuvah,” which literally means “to turn or to re-turn.” In religious teaching, it means to repent and return – to turn away from our sins, and return to the Lord.

This has been the message described over and over in the Bible, ever since Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation in the Garden of Eden. And God’s desire is still the same for us today – He wants everybody to repent and return.

The Bible describes a sinner as someone far from God. When that person repents and returns, they move closer to God. They were blind, but now they see – their eyes have been opened. They were living in darkness, but have turned toward the light.

It would be easier to “return” if we didn’t have to first “repent,” but it doesn’t work that way. We can’t drag our old sin with us into the presence of God. Psalm 66 teaches us, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” So we need to do life God’s way.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, Pastor Pilla opens up 1 Corinthians Ch. 4. We welcome guests from Metro Hope Ministries – lunch following the service.

Psalms 65 - God of Everything

October 10, 2016 Monday Message:

“Mighty praise belongs to you, O God.” from Psalms 65:1 NLT

In Psalm 65, David tells us that our God is the “God of everything.” David gives us a long list, but not an exhaustive list.

God answers our prayers. He forgives our sins. He fills us with joy. Author of awesome deeds, God offers hope to everyone.

Almighty God made majestic mountains, raging oceans with pounding waves, and the sun from where it rises to where it sets. God inspires shouts of joy!

God waters the earth, taking care that it is rich and fertile, to provide a bountiful harvest. With water from heaven, grasslands become lush pastures, hillsides bloom with joy, meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!

God truly deserves all this praise. Even if God’s followers were forced to be silent, the stones along the road would burst into cheers! Luke 19:40

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, Pastor Pilla continues our study in 1 Corinthians Ch. 3.

Psalms 64 - God's Complaint Desk

October 03, 2016 Monday Message:

“Hear me, My God, as I voice my complaint.” Psalms 64:1a NIV

Jesus said that in this world we would have trouble. But that he, Jesus, has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

David has lots of reasons to complain. He’s faced with plenty of trouble, having to constantly elude his enemies. Like David, you and I will also have troubles in this life. There is sin in the world, and sin spells trouble.

But we also have Jesus, and he said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

What we translate as David saying, “Hear me,” really means in the original language, “Hear me and do something about it!” So Psalm 64 is a prayer, asking for God’s help and protection. We all need God’s help and protection from time to time, so don’t be afraid to complain to God!

When life hands you a lemon, head straight for the complaint desk. God will not only hear you out, but he can initiate steps to make things a lot better.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, I’ll continue our study in 1 Corinthians Ch. 3:10-16. See you at church!