Happy New Year!

Dec. 31, 2018 Monday Message – Happy New Year!

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

As we look forward to a new year, we’re once again reminded that the Lord made each and every day, and today is the only day in which we can meet God. If you’re ever going to walk with God, or ask Jesus into your life, or count on Him for help and restoration, today is the only day you can do it.

We can fondly remember what happened yesterday, and learn from our previous mistakes, but that’s all in the distant past. And the future is – like the song says – “Somewhere Out There.” The only day we can live in is right here, right now: “today.” We need to live in “today” because God is living in “today.”

When one of my daughters was a toddler, I watched her wake up. She sat up and stretched, and then her feet hit the floor and she took off running. I don’t know if it was to get breakfast or to go play with friends, but the bottom line is that she didn’t waste a minute. Even at that age, she was determined to get her money’s worth out of each and every day.

We can learn from children. God is giving us all a new day and a new year, but it’s our choice as to how much value we can derive from that heavenly gift. Make a decision to go walking with God – today!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. I’ll follow Jesus as he wanders away from his parents during Passover, only to turn up in teaching in the Temple! Luke 2:41-52 See you at church!

Merry Christmas!

Dec. 24, 2018 Monday Message:

At Christmastide each year, I marvel at the story retold by Luke, of the Messiah coming to earth as a little baby, humble and helpless, wrapped in cloths and safely placed in a stable manger. His arrival wasn’t heralded by either earthly kings and royalty or the ultra-religious Pharisees. Rather, God’s messengers, the angels, announced the arrival of our Savior to shepherds, true blue-collar working-class individuals, ostracized by much of society. God’s point here that Jesus is not only a Savior for the rich and famous – He’s a Savior for ALL who would call him “Lord.”

From John 1: ”¹²To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” That’s where we get the term, “Born-again Christian.” John 3:3

God gave mankind an incredible gift – eternal life in the presence of the Father to all who called on the name of Jesus. Merry Christmas!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll be watching as baby Jesus is presented at the Temple in Jerusalem. See you at church!

Watch for God

Dec. 17, 2018 Monday Message:

“The Lord your God will never leave you or forsake you.” Deut. 31:6b NIV

“Have you seen God lately?” - or perhaps I should ask, “Have you bothered to notice God lately?” - because God is always present, still at work in His universe, in our lives, doing all the good stuff whether or not we’re aware of Him or acknowledge His presence.

Unfortunately, some people have given up on God, and yet God still loves them, just as He loves everything that He created. Atheists and Agnostics live with us on a planet that God keeps spinning. He warms them with His sun, feeds them with His food, and quenches their thirst with His water. He will never leave or forsake what He has created. If they choose to turn back to God, He will welcome them with open arms, just like the Father welcomed the Prodigal Son back home.

As Christians, we should be watching for God in everything we do and everything that happens around us. We need to keep our God-eyes open and focused. God isn’t hiding – He’s all around us, every day. We have the blessing of experiencing the extraordinary tasks God routinely completes for us. Smile and say, “Thanks, God!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla teaches on the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas!

Forgiveness

Dec. 10, 2018 Monday Message:

God forgives every sin, but he doesn’t overlook a single one.

Let’s say that your teenage son or daughter was arrested for speeding. As a parent, you can forgive them, but they have to go to court themselves. When it’s time to pay the fine, the judge will look to them, not you.

Every sin has consequences, often not immediately apparent. The Bible refers to this as, “the pleasures of sin for a short time.”

When a reformed criminal becomes a deeply religious person and appeals for leniency, the judge may or may not grant it. Repentance grants you a spot in heaven, a forever place in the presence of God, but it’s not a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla will lead us through the third Sunday of Advent. We welcome New Hope tour day.

Forgiveness AND Change

Dec. 03, 2018 Monday Message:

On Forgiveness AND Change

John 8 details the incident of the woman caught in adultery. The crowd stood ready to stone her, but Jesus stalled them off: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” from John 8:7 And one by one, the crowd dispersed.

When someone we like sins, people often quote this verse. It’s good advice to forgive, to ‘let go and let God,’ but we also need to remember the second part of Jesus’  lesson: “Go now and leave your life of sin.” from John 8:11

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” God-the-Son came to earth to rescue us, to forgive mankind’s sinful ways – to forgive all who would repent and return to the Lord. And Jesus’ direction, after we repent and He has forgiven, is to change for the better.

Should we go on sinning? “No!” says Paul. “Just as Christ was raised by the glory of God, so too should we live a new life,” a changed life!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla will lead us through the second Sunday of Advent.