The Lord's Prayer!

For Wednesday, May 14, 2025:

Luke 11:1 NLT, Disciples: “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John (the Baptist) taught his disciples.”

Jesus: “When you pray, this is what you should say.” He then spoke his version of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Our Father is in heaven by definition. The rest of us have to achieve heaven. We get there through grace, forgiveness and faith. God is also holy or hallowed by definition. We pray that his Kingdom will come, and that his desires will be executed here on earth, as they are now in heaven.

We ask prayerfully for our daily sustenance, more than just food. We pray for Jesus’ eternal intervention in our forgiveness, using our forgiveness of others as an example. (We’d better get that part right!) And since we are forgiven, please don’t tempt us any further! Deliver us out of this evil planet. Father God, yours is the only Kingdom that matters. Knowing you have all power, we glorify your holy name! In the name of your Son Jesus, the Messiah, we pray. Amen.

Over the years, the spelling and language of The Lord’s Prayer have been updated, but the meaning hasn’t changed. The version we all know was published in the Book of Common Prayer (Anglican or Episcopal) in the late 1700’s. More modern versions have been penned, but no one seems keen on changing what we already have memorized!

I don’t believe Jesus was giving us an all-inclusive prayer that we should recite verbatim. I believe he was giving us bullet points, categories to be intentionally included as our prayers rise upward.

We should pray these things because Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Covenant!

January 20, 2025, Monday Message:

Exodus 6:7 NLT, God’s words: “I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.”

By all rights, Pharaoh should have had the upper hand. The Hebrews were slaves, doing as the Egyptians ordered. And yet Pharaoh feared the foreigners living in his land. His anxiety turned into targeted vengeance, making the Israelite’s existence as miserable as possible.

An intervention was required, so God himself took control. We call this deliverance. Yahweh would deliver the Jews from their misery of living under Pharaoh’s rule.

Deliverance is still available nowadays. God can liberate you from oppression, prejudice, slavery to sin and earthly temptations. He can solve work disputes, financial difficulties and marital quarrels. He is, after all, God over everything! Post-deliverance life is far better than pre-deliverance life. Think about it like this: You have made a covenant with God, and He has made a covenant with you. It’s a good partnership. And by the way, never enter into a covenant with the devil!

The Lord said that you will be my people, and I will be your God. Sign on to the winning team, God’s team!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Hope in the Lord!

For Saturday, February 27, 2021

Psalm 71:14 NIV: “As for me, I will always have hope; Lord, I will praise you more and more.”

This psalmist, like all of us, depended upon God for help. In spite of his current trials, his faith in the Lord filled him with hope for the future. “I will hope continually.” I shall expect deliverance after deliverance and blessing after blessing. And as a result, “I will praise You more and more!”

You've all heard, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” That's what this Psalm is about. The author didn't give up or fall into depression. He doubled-down on his faith; he replaced tribulation with optimism in God's strength, and then thanked God for his change in attitude.

Spurgeon writes, “When I cannot rejoice in what I have, I will look forward to what shall be mine, and will still rejoice!”

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

God Trend!

For Saturday, September 26, 2020 

Psalm 81:10 NLT: “It was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.”

This is God telling us to follow the “God trend.” If He came through for believers once, He’ll be there next time too. If God helped in Egypt, He’s available once again to help us in the United States. That’s the “God Trend!” 

And that’s why, in the midst of a world health crisis, our faith and reliance on the Lord is more important than ever. This isn’t the time to cry, “Woe is me!” This is the time to pray to God for protection, for deliverance from everything that’s wrong in the world. The same God who rescued his people from Egypt can easily see us through this novel pandemic, and that gives us hope!

Talk it over with God and expect results! 

Blessings and safety today,

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Healing Grace!

For Friday, September 18, 2020. 

Matthew 8:8 ESV: “The centurion replied, “Lord Jesus, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Can you find yourself in this story about a centurion asking Jesus to heal his servant? The officer says he’s not worthy, just as none of us is worthy. But Jesus redeems us all by grace, a gift of undeserved favor! 

The centurion is trying to save Jesus the trouble of coming to his home, but that wouldn’t have bothered Jesus. He frequently dined with tax collectors and sinners! “Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers.”

Finally, Jesus is the Great Healer. Some of us need physical healing, and we ALL need deliverance from our world’s sin-problem. No matter your situation, Jesus is the best answer! He’ll take your hand and walk with you through the valley, and you’ll be better off because of his intervention. That’s what the Bible teaches, that’s Good News, and that gives us hope! 

Blessings and safety to all today,

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406