Psalms 116 - Give Back to the Kingdom!

Oct. 30, 2017 Monday Message:

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? Psalms 116:12 NIV

Psalm 116 asks a question for all of us. We all owe a debt of gratitude for the goodness God has shown us. But we’re all different…

Some of us first needed to be lifted up out of the pit, out of the mire – a radical transformation - while others simply needed their eyes refocused on Jesus and things eternal rather, than things of the world.

Remember that God’s desire is that none would parish – no, not one! If you call on His name, God is in the rescue business. He wants us all to come home, to spend eternity with him, not separated from him.

So if God is willing to include you in the Heavenly Kingdom and Jesus has already done the rescue-work on the cross, giving back for the Kingdom’s agenda should be high on our list of priorities.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM, with Pastor Michael Pilla. Don’t forget it’s Daylight Saving Sunday – fall back!

Psalms 115 - Not to Us

Oct. 23, 2017 Monday Message:

“Not to us, but to your name be the glory.” from Psalms 115:1 NIV

Psalm 115 compares man-made idol-gods with the one true God.

You can see the idol, because it is fashioned by mankind. They give it eyes, but it cannot see; ears but it cannot hear; mouths that cannot speak. Those who make them will be like them, not seeing the truth, not speaking the truth.

Our God, whom we cannot see, is aware of every move we make. He will help us, shield us and bless us. The Lord will cause the believers and their children to flourish.

Those who are spiritually dead do not praise the Lord. But we believers praise the Lord, now and forever. He is, after all, the creator of everything!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla opens up 1 Corinthians 14. See you there!

Psalms 114 - Rescued!

Oct. 16, 2017 Monday Message:

“Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord.” Psalms 114:7a NIV

God is omnipotent – all-powerful.

Psalm 114 reminds us that when the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians, God caused one plague after another to secure their release from pharaoh. God led them through the Red Sea, which became dry for them. God led them across the Jordan River, which became dry for them. God gave them manna, meat and water as they crossed a dry, sandy desert. God brought them to the Promised Land. In short, God totally rescued the Hebrew people.

Do you need rescuing from something in your life? It could be poverty, pain, addiction, or something else. So many things can go wrong in a world where Satan plies his craftiness.

Not to worry – God is omnipotent! Trust in the Lord. What can God do for you?

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla opens up 1 Corinthians 13 – love trumps everything else. Guest worship leader David Boeltl.

Psalms 113 - Praise the LORD!

Oct. 9, 2017 Monday Message:

“Praise the Lord.” Psalms 113:1a NIV

Psalm 113 begins and ends with the same words – bookends – “Praise the Lord.” In the original Hebrew, it’s simply, “Hallelujah.”

“Hallel” means to praise someone or something that is great. When that someone is God, the word becomes “Hallelujah.” We translate the Hebrew word Jah or Jahweh as “Lord.” It’s God’s name, just like your name is Mark or Tom or Mary or Martha – Jahweh.

I found 43 places in the Bible where God says words like, “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” God agrees to love his people and send them help, if they agree to love and obey him. So Jahweh is the special name used by those agreeing to love God. Covenant is another word for agreement.

While God is great and mighty and omnipresent – “From the rising to the setting sun…” – he also lifts up the poor from the ground and the needy from the ashes. God’s not afraid to get his hands dirty! God will seat them alongside heaven’s royalty. Don’t miss it!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla continues our discussion of Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12.

Psalms 112 - The Winning Team

Oct. 2, 2017 Monday Message:

“The children (of those who believe) will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalms 112:2 NIV

There’s a value system – a standard-of-character – in every person, every family, every organization, and on a larger scale, every country. Let’s call it the DNA of character, standards to which we have all tacitly agreed to adhere. God gave us these standards.

New believers need to check each situation against the owner’s manual – the Bible, while seasoned believers can say the right things and make the right decisions instinctively. They have been immersed in Jesus’ teaching - his value system – for so long, it becomes second nature.

If all the parents are believers, and they teach their children to believe, and their children’s children are on the right path, God will bless that nation. His gift of righteousness is for those who repent and return, those who love him and serve him.

The Psalm concludes by telling us that evil people will see God favoring the believers and become angry, but the desires of the wicked will come to nothing.

So there are 2 teams – God’s people vs the bad guys, and God has given us free will to decide which is our team. I want to be on the winning side, so I peeked at the end of the book – God wins!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll continue our discussion of Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 – each of us is a necessary part of the body of Christ. See you at church!