Gifts & Talents!

For Wednesday, June 10, 2026:

Colossians 1:25 NLT, Paul speaking: “God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.”

It’s easy for Paul to identify his spiritual calling. The incident on the road to Damascus leaves no doubt!

Each of us is also called to serve, but our calling might not be as straightforward as Paul’s. I knew a man, an architect, who was nationally known for his large building designs. He sat in a pew week after week, wondering how he should serve. Eventually he retired, and that’s when his church decided they needed a new, much larger sanctuary on their campus. He went to work immediately! His purpose became obvious! Also, there was a woman who only knew a few chords on the guitar. She didn’t have the skill for the main worship team in the big room, but she was perfect for leading kids’ songs at church camp.

Sometimes the challenge is identifying your inherent skill. Other times it’s finding the proper venue to fit the available skill. The local church is better when we all share our God-given talents with others in the fellowship.

Are you still trying to identify your gifts, or are you figuring out how to put them to use?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Children of God!

For Wednesday, October 19, 2022:

Ephesians 3:6 NLT: “This is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.”

Paul, leading his posse to persecute Christians, was struck down on the road to Damascus, where Jesus himself called Paul into Christian ministry. Blind for 3 days, Paul was led into the city. His sight was restored and he was baptized by Christians. Paul is the only evangelist in the Bible personally called by Jesus after the resurrection!

While Paul was blind, the Bible says that Jesus questioned his persecution of Christians. At the same time, I believe Jesus also gave Paul a great deal of knowledge and theological detail. We can believe everything that Paul’s preaching, because his new theology came straight from the Messiah!

The Son of God came to the world through the Jews, but he is to be the Savior of ALL the world, and Paul makes this clear. Anyone who is a believer – slave or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile – becomes one of God’s children, a member of the Holy Family, with all the rights and privileges of any family member.

Children of God become residents in the Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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