Encouragement and Hope!

For Friday, April 30, 2021

Romans 15:4 CEV: “The Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope.”

Q: What’s in the Bible?

A: Encouragement and hope!

Paul said we should keep our eyes on the prize, on the ultimate goal. And for a believer, that’s life after this life in the presence of Father God! It’s knowing that Jesus made it possible for eternity to be a pleasant experience for us! Yes, friends, we have inherited a lot of hope!

Different churches have different activities and different programs. They’re usually all good, and some are a lot of fun. But EVERY church needs to be clear on the basics, the fact that death is not the end, and that Jesus can make everything way better!

Jesus has offered to be our friend; we should reciprocate, saying, ‘Yes, Lord!’

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Live in the Light!

For Thursday, April 29, 2021

1 Thessalonians 5:8 NLT: “Let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.”

Evil lurks in darkness, but believers live in the light of day, the light of Jesus! Satan won’t ever give up, but he won’t venture too far into the light either. One of the best defenses against darkness is to stay closer to the light! Fill your life with Jesus, the light of the world!

As we walk through life’s journey, know that we can look forward to eternal salvation made possible by the work Jesus did on the cross. We have hope! Mankind’s sin problem has been dealt with, leaving us free to seek eternal life in the presence of the Father, and isn’t that the ultimate goal, a good life after this life so that death is not the end? It’s a free gift, and we receive it through faith in the Son!

Live in the light!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Grace!

For Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Ephesians 1:7b ERV: “We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace.”

Isn’t it difficult to comprehend the enormity of God’s love for us? The truth is, none of us deserves redemption. Using God’s value system, none of us measures up. And yet God went out of his way to give us a second chance, to include us in the eternal Kingdom, and that gives us hope!

Forgiveness of our sin makes this all possible. The ‘grace of God’ is defined as undeserved favor. None of us deserves this kindness, but we all need to be willing to accept the free gift of salvation. Jesus loves you, and so does his Father!

God is in your corner!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Son of God!

For Tuesday, April 27, 2021

John 5:17 NLT, Jesus speaking: “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

This simple statement got Jesus in a lot of trouble with the Jewish leaders. He’s calling God his ‘Father,’ which therefore makes him the Son of God! Without exploring any evidence, the Jewish leaders’ first reaction was to call this blasphemy! But Jesus was pretty clear on who he is!

Nowadays we have more evidence, from the virgin birth to the miracle of healings to walking on water! Jesus is clearly different, better than any other human, since he’s fully man but also fully God! Trusting in him gives us an abundance of hope for our future!

God never stops working, even on the Sabbath!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Jesus' Character!

April 26, 2021 Monday Message

Titus 3:4-5 CEV: “God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning.”

I’ve been speaking lately about the character of our Savior. If I asked you all to write down the traits of a person of good character, and then we compared lists, a lot of the same items would come up over and over again - honesty, integrity, fairness, compassion, loyalty, humility, perseverance, forgiveness – this list goes on. But every one of these traits applies to Jesus.

Last Friday we looked at the compassion Jesus showed to the woman caught in adultery. This Wednesday we’ll look at Jesus restoring sight in a blind beggar. His faith also resulted in the restoration of the man’s soul. See? Good character is a God-trend!

If you look up “Person of Good Character,” a picture of Jesus will be right there. He’s the kind of person you want in your corner. It’s worthwhile to pursue and maintain your relationship with our Redeemer.

Jesus offers hope!

Blessings and safety to all this week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Winners!

For Sunday, April 25, 2021

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

As believers, we have a great deal of confidence in the life after this life, when our spirit (our essence, our soul) goes to live with the Lord. Everything will be different, but it will be awesome!

When your address is “Heaven,” there is no sickness, no disease, no pain and no suffering. Satan cannot gain a stronghold in the presence of the Lord! We know who wins! For a time, Satan will try to do business on earth, but those days are coming to an end. You have a Bible – flip to the end and see who wins!

Stick with the winning team!

Blessings and safety this Sunday!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Second Chances!

For Saturday, April 24, 2021

Psalm 85:2 CEV: “Lord, you have forgiven the sin and taken away the guilt of your people.”

Prophets had consistently told God’s people to remain optimistic. If the people would repent and return to the Lord, he would forgive them and restore their land. This psalm was probably written while Israel was ruled by Babylon, but nonetheless their faith remained. They had repented and returned, and were now anticipating full restoration!

2,000 years ago, God’s Son Jesus came to earth to fully explain God’s plan for forgiveness and restoration for the rest of us. Jesus would take the sin of the world upon himself, and the people’s favor with the Lord would be fully restored! It’s a perfect plan that includes us all!

Our God is a God of second chances!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

God's Purpose!

For Friday, April 23, 2021

Philippians 2:13 PHILLIPS: “It is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve his purpose.”

This helps answer a ‘first-order’ question: “Who am I, and what am I doing here?” Everyone has questions like these. The short answer is that God put you here and has a purpose in mind. It’s like we’re all a piece of a big jigsaw puzzle. It will present a much better picture if we all participate.

God is the perfect example of a benevolent dictator. He gives us the freedom to make choices, but God’s way is always the right way! Time after time God forgives our offenses, and makes a pathway for us to return. His desire is that none would be lost, that all would repent and return! He’s a God of second chances, and that gives us hope!

God wants to work in you and through you!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Be like Jesus!

For Thursday, April 22, 2021

Philippians 2:5 NLT: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Progress, not perfection – that’s how I look at this. While none of us can perfectly emulate the life of Jesus, it’s a worthy goal. If everyone added honesty, forgiveness and compassion to their character, the world would be a better place.

If everyone took on the attitude of Jesus, people would all get along. Countries would all get along. We’d insist on caring for widows and orphans, and if someone did mess up and break the rules, we’d first consider using that as a teaching moment to get them back on track. People would be less concerned with getting even! Jesus aligned himself with those who most needed to hear his message, giving them and us hope!

Jesus loved ALL of mankind!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

God with Us!

For Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Isaiah 43:2 NLT, God speaking: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

If you’re a believer, God has adopted you into his Holy Family. Therefore, no matter what life hands you, you won’t have to deal with it by yourself. Father God says, “I will be with you.”

This is so important that God says it three times! He’ll walk with you through situations that seem like deep oceans, raging rivers or consuming fire! He has your back! We have hope. If God is on your side, who could be stand you?

Don’t forget that God is also with you during good times!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

What's Next?

For Tuesday, April 20, 2021

John 14:6 NLT, Jesus speaking: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

“What’s next?” The disciples wanted to know! Serving alongside Jesus was great, but they all wanted to know what to expect in the years ahead. And what about the life after this life?

Jesus assured them all that his Father’s house was huge, and that he would have told them if it were not so. He promises to go on ahead and prepare a place for everyone!

The listeners wanted directions, as if going on a journey. Thomas asked, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Turns out they already knew the way. They had long ago made a decision to follow Jesus, and he alone is the ticket to the hereafter. We have that same opportunity nowadays, to insure our future in the next life. Jesus left us with hope!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Let it Shine!

April 19, 2021 Monday Message

Ephesians 1:5 NLT: “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

We are born once to our earthly parents, and born again when God adopts us into the Holy Family through knowing Jesus Christ. God knew we’d need rescuing, and put this plan in place before the foundation of the world! Be overjoyed that He’s looking out for us, and that He derives pleasure from the process!

On another note - Our city, the metropolitan Twin Cities area, is currently seeing copious amounts of darkness. While Christian values support equality and fairness, the rioting, looting and violence are unacceptable. God shines light into the world through the lives of believers. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Therefore, in our corner of South Minneapolis, we shine as much light as possible! Pray for our city as we add more Bible and more Jesus!

If light shines into the darkness, it is no longer dark!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Open My Heart!

For Sunday, April 18, 2021

Ephesians 1:18 CJB, Paul speaking: “I pray that he will give light to the eyes of your hearts, so that you will understand the hope to which he has called you, what rich glories there are in the inheritance he has promised his people.”

This is the verse that led to the popular Christian song, “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord.” The ‘heart’ is a metaphor for being ‘all in,’ like when a couple says to each other, “I love you with all my heart.” The prayer asks that not just your external eyes be opened, but that your entire body and soul could see and understand the goodness of God and his Son Jesus, and the hope we have as children of God.

The ‘glorious inheritance’ refers to the life we can enjoy after this life, heaven. In Paul’s day, there was debate about if life after this life even existed. Of course Jesus proved that death is not the end, and because Jesus took our sin-problem upon himself, we have the inherited hope of spending eternity in the presence of the Father!

"I want to see You; I want to see You!”

Blessings and safety as we worship today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

WWJD

For Saturday, April 17, 2021

John 13:15 NIRV, Jesus speaking: “I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you.”

My father taught me that when faced with a negotiation or some kind of difficult decision, he’d run it through his little test: “Is it right - is it fair - is it honest; should we be doing this thing?” It reminds me of those “WWJD” items, reminding us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”

Our founding pastor called me yesterday, concerned about the safety of our city. With the Derek Chauvin trial nearing an end and the recent killing of Daunte Wright, we’re once again faced with a rash of civil unrest. He believes the church proffers hope for the city, and I agree! The church can anchor a biblical perspective toward solving our city’s problems, where everyone could step back, take a deep breath, and first ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?”

What Jesus would do would be the right thing to do!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406