Jehovah-jireh!

For Saturday, December 6, 2025:

Romans 5:6 NLT: “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”

There’s a lot in this scripture. Let me review a couple of basic Christian principles, and then we’ll have a look.

1. God and sin are incompatible. God is perfect, and everything around him is perfect. Sin is hugely imperfect and is not tolerated in God’s presence.

2. When God formed mankind, the final step of creation, he looked at everything and declared it “very good!” He loves us, so his desire is that everyone would repent and return to his dwelling place, Heaven. God is willing to forgive repentant sinners if we’re willing to discard our errant ways and if our desire is to come home.

Mankind had no way to obtain forgiveness on our own. Helpless. So God sent his Son, Jesus, our redeemer, to rescue us. As Jesus died, he took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. And mankind, suddenly without sin, found ourselves eligible to take up eternal residence in the Lord’s presence.

God-the-provider, Jehovah-jireh, sent exactly what we needed, forgiveness and redemption, exactly when we needed it. God is good beyond measure!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Zechariah's Prophecy!

For Friday, December 5, 2025:

Luke 1:67 NLT: “Then baby John’s father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy.”

As Zechariah’s voice returned, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke prophecy concerning his newborn. This is not something he just thought up. This is God – the Holy Spirit – speaking through Zechariah.

Let’s review the high points. “The Lord has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior. God fulfilled his promise, his covenant with his people. We will be saved from our enemies and all who hate us. We will be rescued from our enemies. We can serve God without fear. And baby John will be called the prophet of the Most High, because he will prepare the way for the Lord. He will tell God’s people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven, is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Wow! Those are pretty big tasks, especially for a newborn, but history proves prophecy. We know baby John as John the Baptist, who indeed prepared the people for the ministry of Jesus. Jesus quashed Satan and his demons. Jesus personally died to redeem us. His life was the penalty for the sins of the world, now paid in full. Therefore, our relationship with Father God improved exponentially.

After Jesus, everything was different. After Jesus, everything was better, a lot better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Reciprocal Love!

For Thursday, December 4, 2025

Romans 5:5b NLT: “We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Love is reciprocal. Bi-directional. God loves us so much that it becomes easy to love him back. So put the Lord up on a pedestal and add worship to your lives in abundance!

God’s timing is always perfect. When mankind was floundering, he sent Jesus to rescue us. Now that Jesus has returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit has been sent to be our helper and our advocate. As children of God, Heaven is where we belong. Eventually. God is trying to make it easy for us to come home. The Holy Spirit will guide us. Home is where when you go there, theyhave to let you in!

 When we become believers, we’re adopted into the family of God. We receive the rights, privileges and benefits of being a family member. We can inherit salvation! As we transition from this life to the next, Jesus will be there to welcome us with open arms. Jesus is the light of the world, and we should always pursue light, not darkness.

I wish churches would teach more about the Holy Spirit. He’s one-third of the Trinity, but seems to be on the short end of receiving screen time. Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations, but I don’t think I could ever do that on my own. The Earth is just too big! But a team with each member possessing different God-given gifts and talents can bring Jesus’ goal into focus.

Can you heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons? By yourself, no. With the Holy Spirit, maybe, if it fits with God’s purpose and timetable. For example, if someone is dying because God is calling them home, we should leave well enough alone. But if someone is dying because demons are disrupting things, we should cast out the demon(s) and heal the illness. God’s way is always the right way! The Holy Spirit will help!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. He’s already loving you back!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

His Name is John!

For Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Luke 1:63 NLT: “Zechariah motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, ‘His name is John.’”

Zechariah had been rendered mute after questioning the angel’s ability to bring God’s miracle of a son to fruition. And now they find themselves at the eight-day circumcision, and we need a name for that baby boy. Elizabeth, the mom, said to call him “John.” There was no relative in their family named John, and children were traditionally named in honor of an ancestor. So the mohel demanded verification from the dad. Zechariah wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately, Zechariah’s ability to speak returned.

Their friends and neighbors were in awe! First, the miracle of childbirth. Elizabeth had been barren throughout her life, and Zechariah was well past the age of fathering children. Then an encounter with an angel, a promise from God that came true, and Zechariah losing his voice and regaining it immediately after following the angel’s instructions for naming! With his newly found speaking voice, he began praising God!

Nowadays we have newspapers, radio, TV and the internet. But back then, word-of-mouth was the only way to spread the news. All throughout the Judean hills, word moved quickly. The names Zechariah, Elizabeth and John were on the tips of everyone’s tongues. It was obvious that God’s hand was on this special family. Everyone asked, “What will this child turn out to be?”

We know this child as John the Baptist, the one who would prepare the way for Jesus, God’s only Son! And Jesus is God’s gift to mankind!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Better Life!

 

For Tuesday, December 2, 2025:

Hebrews 12:1a NLT: “Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.”

Just one simple point today. God didn’t accept believers because we suddenly became perfect. God welcomes us because we’re friends of his Son. Jesus opened the door for believers to spend eternity with the Heavenly Father. And out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us, we do our best to live His way, to not sin, to conform to God’s directions for our lives.

There’s a fishing joke about new believers. “You catch ‘em and we’ll clean ‘em!” Devotion to Jesus comes first. Clean-up may be gradual, may take a little more time. We will nonetheless get cleaned. And because of that, our lives will be better.

With Jesus, everything is better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Advent!

 December 1, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 1:59b-60 NLT: “They wanted to name Elizabeth’s baby Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”

As this baby matured, we would know him as John the Baptist. John was the forerunner, opening people’s minds and hearts as he set the stage for Jesus.

We too prepare for Jesus’ arrival with the Christian tradition of Advent, which means the arrival of something of great importance. On the church calendar, Advent is the four weeks preceding Christmas. Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, with three more to come. Advent is not in the Bible, although God arranged for John to pave the way for Jesus.

In the US, with Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve) and Thanksgiving behind us, our focus turns to Christmas. We bring trees and decorative branches indoors. We wrap special gifts for the wee ones. We lend extra support to charitable needs in our communities.

But most of all, we should keep Christ in Christmas. Yes, we’re celebrating Jesus’ arrival, his human birthday. But more importantly, we’re celebrating the rescue of mankind and the forgiving of our sins. And having been forgiven, Jesus prepared a place for us in the hereafter, eternity in the presence of the Lord. We’re celebrating the Assurance of Salvation for believers, made possible by his Son!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Obedient and Thankful!

For Sunday, November 30, 2025:

Luke 1:46-47 NLT: Mary responded: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”

Mary was both obedient and thankful. This young woman finds herself with child, never having been with a man. Strange situation! She is about to marry Joseph. How’s that going to look to all the neighborhood gossips? God would have to send his messenger angel again to explain the situation to Joseph!

Gabriel had told her that the child would be known as the Son of God. That convinces Mary that this is a good thing. She’s awestruck at being chosen by the Lord. This simple woman has been given a huge honor! May those gossiping shut their mouths! Mary could get away, perhaps visit her cousin Elizabeth for a while. Elizabeth had been visited by an angel too, and was pregnant with John the Baptist.

Thankfulness flowed out of Mary as she prayed the Magnificat, her song of praise for being honored by God. (Luke 1:46-55) The Lord has a unique task for each of us, and we should all get ready to serve. We should be obedient, and – just like Mary – we should be filled with gratitude for what we have been given.

God is good!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Trials and Tribulations!

For Saturday, November 29, 2025:

Romans 5:3-4 NLT: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

“Thank you, Lord, for these problems in my life!” Somehow that prayer doesn’t seem to make sense. Shouldn’t being one of the faithful give us a better life, protect us from problems? The logical answer is ‘yes,’ but that’s not how life works.

 If we have conquered a problem in the past, we’ll have God-given experience in dealing with it. We’ll recognize the same issue if it crops up again and know how to proceed. Our experience can help others battling similar demons. Case in point: Most alcohol and drug counselors are themselves in addiction recovery. Similarly, people undergoing cancer treatments form small groups to support one another through brutal therapy. Being kind and helpful, i.e. loving our neighbors, is what Jesus told us to do.

With a Christian viewpoint, we can change life’s biggest problems into valuable Kingdom assets, and the world will be a better place! Salvation awaits the faithful!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

 

John Leapt!

For Friday, November 24, 2025:

Luke 1:41 NLT: “At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

When we last talked about Mary, she wasn’t sure what was transpiring. She was about to become pregnant, although she had never been with a man. But she was obedient: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Miracles occur when the Holy Spirit is present. Those who understood what was happening were the babies! Elizabeth was carrying John the Baptist, while Mary’s womb was hosting Jesus, Son of the Most High! When Mary entered Elizabeth’s house, John the Baptist leapt for joy! Even as an unborn baby, he was excited by the presence of his Savior!

This isn’t a big theological point. It’s not a redeeming ordinance. It’s just fun trivia, and I’m glad Luke included the event for all our enjoyment. Remembering the interaction of these two babies puts a smile on our faces!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Thanksgiving!

For Thursday, November 27, 2025:

Genesis 12:7 NIV: “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

The purpose of Thanksgiving is twofold: worship and expression of thankfulness. In the US, today is Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday with a checkered history and a biblical precedent. God established this covenant: “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” Consequently, God took very good care of his people, who then gave thanks to God for all he had done for them, and for all he would continue to do.

 As the US began, George Washington declared a time of thanksgiving, gratitude for our independence from British rule. God had granted them freedom, and saying they were grateful would be an understatement. (I’m sure Washington was also thankful for the ability to remain standing in tLincolnhat boat as his image was captured for posterity!)

The nation grew, and observance of Thanksgiving varied from state to state. It was not always on the same date. President Abraham Lincoln finally declared Thanksgiving a national holiday on the last Thursday of November. During his term, the internal conflict between North/South ended, so there was plenty for which to be thankful.

May the Lord be at the center of your Thanksgiving day events. Have a warm and safe day filled with gratitude. May God’s blessings go with you and your families, not just today, but always! In Jesus’ name...Amen!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

 

God's Gift!

For Wednesday, November 26, 2025:

Romans 5:2 NLT: “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

 "Because of our faith…” This is why Heaven’s gifts keep raining into our lives. I wish we could see God. That way, we could watch him smile as we do things that please him. Surely God smiles when we worship him, and when we honor his Son. God wants to include us in his forever kingdom, where his glory shines!

 In the past, we might not have been worthy to live alongside the Father and his Son. But the Son, Jesus, took away our sinful nature as part of God’s vast eternal plan. So here we are, looking forward to our eternal lives because of what God had his Son put in motion. This is undeserved favor at its max! Mankind is the beneficiary of God’s grace!

 God, Jesus and believers all living in harmony, loving one another, forever! It doesn’t get any better than that!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Forgiven forever!

For Tuesday, November 25, 2025:

Romans 5:1 AMP: “Since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).”

Christians are saved by grace, God’s gift to us, through faith, believing in the Father and his Son, Jesus. On the cross, Jesus took away the sins of the world. Through this monumental miracle, we were given a clean slate, a fresh start, a do-over on living our lives. Prospective believers are asked to commit to a decision of believing and accepting God’s gift of reconciliation. Through Jesus, our sins are separated from us as far as the east is from the west. Our sins are at the bottom of the deepest ocean. In the book of life, the column titled “sin” will be blank. No scratch-outs; no eraser marks; just blank white space.

Believers will find that they have been redeemed, bought back from Satan. Jesus paid the price to rescue us. So now in our minds, we need to discard the image of being a perpetual sinner. We need to look, act and live out the role of someone whose sins no longer exist! Believers are holy. Believers have joined the Jesus Team!

We may not be perfect, but day by day we’ll grow closer to God. Progress, not perfection. Pray to love the Lord more today than yesterday. Accept with gratitude God’s gift of salvation and eternal life. Shout out, “Jesus, I’m with you!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Obedience!

November 24, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 1:38 NLT: Mary responded to the angel Gabriel: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

God was about to visit his people on earth. He would come as the second form of the Trinity, Jesus-the-Son. This IS God who can do anything. He could have appeared in any form before any people on earth. But what he chose to do was become a part of a typical family. He wouldn’t have a special title or be royalty. He wanted people to watch, see and discern for themselves that he was in fact the Son of God. He hand-selected his mother, who would go through a normal gestation period. He would be born into humble surroundings. And as he grew and matured, Jesus would be living the ways and customs of God’s people, and he would be known by them. I know this wouldn’t have been my first guess, but God’s way is always the best way. It’s a story that we all now love!

Notice Mary’s obedience. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Despite being a virgin and not understanding how this was all going to work, Mary did not question the Lord. “Whatever God’s plan is, count me in!” We could all take a lesson in obedience from Mary!

Remember, Mary and Joseph had not yet consummated their marriage. So Mary went to the hill country near Judea to visit her relatives Zechariah and Elizabeth. As Mary approached Elizabeth, 6 months pregnant, the baby within her jumped for joy! Her son, John-the-Baptist, would prepare the way for Mary’s baby Jesus.

The world would never be the same!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Never-ending Faith!

For Sunday, November 23, 2025:

Hebrews 11:38 AMP: “(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandered in deserts and mountains and [lived in] caves and holes in the ground.”

Hebrews has been teaching us about faith, the never-ending belief in God and his Son. Some will rise to greatness and point others to the Lord. Others will be persecuted by nonbelievers, beaten, whipped and sometimes killed. For them, it would be easy to lose faith, but that would be a bad decision.

No matter our lot in this life, our best reward is waiting for us in the next life. Keep your eye on the prize. The only two choices are (#1) spending eternity in God’s presence, or (#2) treading forever in the deep lake of fire. The right choice instantly becomes obvious.

Whatever happens to us in this life is only temporary. We will have whatever blessings God has planned for us, but we never want to lose faith in the blessings God has for believers in the next life.

Stick with God, and he’ll stick with you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church