Psalm 79 - Forever Faithful

January 30, 2017 Monday Message:

“We your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever.” Psalms 79:13a (NIV)

About 600 years before Jesus, Babylon invaded Jerusalem, defiled the temple, and left the dead unburied. It was a horrible time for the Jews.

God did not cause these bad things to happen, but he did withhold his supernatural protection of the chosen people, who had – for a time – turned away from God.

When the people repented and returned – turned back to God – God was right where he always had been. After all, these are his people. The word translated “sheep” means “group” or “flock,” not necessarily an animal. For followers of God, it’s like saying, “We are your congregation.”

Psalm 79 is a confession, an apology, and a restated faith commitment to God. And if we are faithful to him, he will be faithful to us. And that’s still true today. “From generation to generation, we will proclaim your praise.” Psalms 79:13b

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am.

Psalms 78 - Teach Me Your Experience

January 23, 2017 Monday Message:

“We will not hide (knowledge of the past) from our descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.” Psalms 78:4 (NIV)

If you could graph Israel’s relationship with God, it would look like a roller coaster — up and down, up and down, over and over again. Here’s the pattern: the people sin and forget about God, grow far from God, until God finally rescues them (again and again) and the people repent and return and honor God — until they once again forget and fall away.

Psalm 78 is long - 72 verses! As I said, the pattern repeats itself numerous times, and the Psalmist’s point is that if we don’t hide these things, perhaps the next generation can learn from our past mistakes.

As leaders, it’s our responsibility to raise up, convince and equip the next generation. Teach them what God would have us do, but first give them knowledge of the past. God wants us to learn from those mistakes – to do better next time. He needs each succeeding generation to be able to take a step forward – to be equipped to do better, and we’re to help with the equipping!

The psalmist Asaph concludes with a call for Jewish unity. He says that everyone needs to support David, who was chosen through heavenly intervention. David is God’s man for the job, a man after God’s own heart.

Learn from Asaph’s examples – everything goes better when you’re working WITH God!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, January 29, 2017. We meet at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am.

Sanctity of Life/MLK Jr. Day

January 16, 2017 Monday Message:

“You, God, created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 (NIV)

Many churches celebrate Sanctity of Life Sunday on the 3^rd Sunday of January. Because New Years Day was Jan. 1^st, that means that last Sunday, Jan. 15^th, was Sanctity of Life Sunday, which puts it right up against Monday, Jan. 16^th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

So in our worship, should we celebrate Sanctity of Life or Racial Equality? I believe the correct answer is, “Both!”

The Bible is quite clear that God places a high priority on his creation of mankind, and that’s ALL mankind! People of different races, people of different colors, both men and women – they are all fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. God knows what he’s doing! God had the days planned for each of us before our bodies were even formed.

So this week, let’s celebrate the lives of all our brothers and sisters in Christ – all of God’s people!

Norton Lawellin

Join Jesus in the City Fellowship next Sunday, January 22, 2017. Pastor Van Dickerson brings us a message from 1 Cor. 7. We’re at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am.

Psalms 77 - Faith

January 09, 2017 Monday Message:

“You are the God who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples.” Psalms 77:14 (NIV)

In Psalm 77, the writer was in distress. He cried out to God for help. When help didn’t arrive right away, he panicked. “Will the Lord reject me forever?” Psalms 77:7

The Psalmist then answered his own question. He remembers the miracles God performed in rescuing his people. He remembers God parting the Red Sea as they fled Pharaoh. He remembers Moses and Aaron leading them to the Promised Land. So logically, if God could solve these big problems, He could easily rectify whatever was currently amiss. It's a "God-trend!"

So the question isn’t, “Is God able to rescue us?” The real question is, “Do we have enough faith to believe that God can and will rescue us?”

My prayer today is that God would pour an extra helping of faith onto each one of us.

Norton Lawellin

Lets worship together! Next Sunday, January 15, 2017, Jesus In the City celebrates Sanctity of Life Sunday at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. See you at church!

Psalms 76 - Let Your 'Yes' Mean YES!

January 02, 2017 Monday Message:

“People, you made promises to the Lord your God. Now give him what you promised. People everywhere fear and respect God, and they will bring gifts to him.” Psalms 76:11 (ERV)

It’s a New Year, and because New Years Day fell on a Sunday, the legal holiday was Monday. So everything’s a day behind…

Many people make New Years Resolutions, things they intend to do throughout the coming year. Sometimes people are successful, but oftentimes the resolution is quickly abandoned.

We can use Psalm 76:11 as a model for our 2017 resolution. Make a promise, a commitment to God, and then do what you promised. People everywhere respect and honor God – and we should too!

Jesus taught us to “let our ‘yes’ mean yes, and our ‘no’ mean no.” That’s a good principle when working with anyone, but especially when we’re working with God.

So start of 2017 the right way. Make a solid commitment to God, and do what you said you’d do.

Happy New Year!

Norton Lawellin

Next Sunday, January 8, 2017, the “Christmas in the City” families join us for worship - at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. Pastor Michael Pilla teaches from Luke 2:41-52.