Holy Spirit!

For Wednesday, December 31, 2025:

John 15:26 NLT, Jesus speaking: “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth.”

Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit, the third person of our Trinity God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He’s so helpful and useful that it’s challenging to call him only one name. Bible translators have referred to him as Advocate, Comforter, Encourager and Counselor. In Greek, it’s “Paraclete.” The Holy Spirit is all these things, and more.

Jesus and his Father both said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Since Jesus will return to the Father in Heaven, the Holy Spirit is given to mankind to hold things together until Jesus returns. If we find ourselves in a courtroom, the Holy Spirit will be our defense attorney. He will help us when we’re doing good things, and he’ll put us on the right path when we’re not. He cures depression, telling us that everything will be all right in the end. God always wins. When we feel like giving up on life, he’ll keep us going. He’ll define right from wrong in our minds, and help us make the correct choice.

As believers, we seem to not know a lot about the Holy Spirit. Mankind is fine with believing in a God we’ve never seen, and we have eyewitness testimony about Jesus’ time on earth. But the Holy Spirit? I don’t know. We need more info on the Spirit. Believers should live on faith, not just in the Father and the Son, but also in the Holy Spirit. We must trust what the Father and the Son told us: that the Spirit is a part of God, and that he can and will do what they told us the Spirit is capable of doing.

Today would be the best time to lock in your relationship with the Spirit. Become a seeker, not just of God and Jesus, but also of the Holy Spirit. God would not have sent us another helper if we didn’t need one!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Attend Your Local Church!

For Wednesday, October 8, 2025:

Hebrews 10:25 NLT: “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

If ever there were a good time for attending church, this would be it. Of course, it goes without saying that corporate worship of the one true God is always good. But what are some of the benefits for us?

We can double-check that we’re still on the same page with other believers. We can double-check that our beliefs still conform to the truths found in the Bible. We can encourage and support one another. We can fellowship together, even when it’s not a worship moment. We can “belong” in our community of believers. Our church friends can be our best friends.

I remember when I started a business with a partner. A lot of remodeling was necessary to make the space suitable for our business, and we did the work ourselves. If I became overwhelmed and discouraged, I still kept working because I didn’t want to let him down. He did the same for me. Even after we both decided it was time to take a break, one of us would jump up and pound the last few nails or measure a board for the next cut. It seems that we didn’t even know how to properly take a break! The point is that we accomplished way more as a team than I would have by myself.

A pastor told me that he believes we are in the end times of the end times. Jesus told us to watch for certain signs, and we’re routinely seeing some of them. I always hesitate when discussing eschatology, because Jesus said that no one knows exactly when it will all happen – the Second Coming of Christ, death, judgment, and the afterlife. After today, we’re one day closer than we were yesterday. The Bible says that God may be moving slowly to give more people a chance to be redeemed. God’s desire is that none would perish, but that all would repent and return. God will set the wheels in motion at the perfect time.

Watch for it with your brothers and sisters as you meet together!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Blessings!

For Wednesday, October 5, 2022:

Numbers 5:24-26 ESV: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

The Lord spoke to Moses who then told Aaron and his sons, “This is how to bless the believers.” Leaders bless their fellow believers, priests bless their congregations and people of God bless each other. We should memorize these thoughts and words as we counsel and encourage our circle of friends.

This blessing wishes others the best in the name of the Lord. May the Lord keep his hand upon you and guide you with forgiveness and grace. May the Lord look down on you and give you his peace that passes all understanding. May life go well for you today!

This ancient wisdom is still a good idea nowadays!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Serving!

For Thursday, May 19, 2022:

Romans 12:7-8 NLT: “If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

When faith calls us to join up with other believers, we serve out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us. The Lord created unique gifts and talents within each of us that we can add to the Christian resource pool, and we are called to do so.

To this I would add that we shouldn’t serve where we’re not gifted, where we have little talent. Our God deserves nothing but our best efforts, so we should serve doing what we can best do.

When God taps you on the shoulder, consider saying ‘yes.’

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Obedience!

For Thursday, February 24, 2022

Genesis 12:1 NLT, God speaking to Abram: “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”

This was a big ask! Pack all your belongings; same for your family and the people who work with you; pack all your wealth and livestock, and journey to the land that I will show you! That Abram did this shows obedience to the Lord and a lot of faith! God hadn’t even shared with Abram the intended destination! Turns out it was Canaan, a land currently inhabited by the Canaanites. This might not go well!

In return, God promised to bless Abram, to give him hope for the future: “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Churches are now seeking the next generation of leaders who can carry forward the task of sharing the Good News with the world. Each of us can serve when called, and encourage others who have been called.

Remember, God rewards obedience!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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