End Times Progress!

For Saturday, January 17, 2026:

Matthew 24:7-8 NLT: Jesus speaking: “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

Jesus is teaching about the beginning of the end times. His description doesn’t sound like a pleasant time for anyone. Jesus is drawing a parallel to the pain of childbirth. But when childbirth ends, we get to hold a beautiful little baby, a miracle that puts a smile on everyone’s face! All’s well that ends well!

The Bible tells us that some people will give up during this time of tribulation. Don’t you be like them! One of the Bible’s most loyal believers was Job. We should imitate him, copy his behavior. Job loved the Lord and had a good life. Then things started going south, but Job still loved the Lord. He finally hit rock bottom: starvation and diseases. Job’s wife said he should curse God and then die! But Job didn’t do that. He never lost faith. He never lost hope! God eventually proved himself worthy of Job’s ongoing faith. Job’s good fortune was restored to the best it had ever been! God is good!

As we live our lives, expect some bad stuff. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The truly good life will be the life after this life. Jesus has prepared a place for the faithful in the next life, God’s forever Heavenly Kingdom!

Hold up the new baby, and put a smile on your face!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Prodigal Son - 2

For Tuesday, July 15, 2025:

Luke 15:13 NLT: “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.”

Today we’re continuing with Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, the one who demanded his share of the inheritance while dear old dad was still alive. Moving to the big city, he quickly squandered all his money on wine, women and song. And in a perfect Murphy’s Law scenario, when his money ran out, the region’s food also ran out. Our prodigal was forced to accept employment from a farmer who raised pigs! To Jewish people, pigs were unclean, non-kosher animals. And here he was tending to their needs like a slave. Pigs were fed pods after the desirable beans had been removed, and our prodigal was so hungry that he would sneak some for himself. Wow – taking a meal with pigs! He had hit his bottom.

The younger son thought about his situation and applied some logic. “Back home, even the hired hands have enough to eat, and here I am starving.” There was only one solution. “I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” And he did just that.

The surprise comes from the father, who was watching and waiting for the wayward son to return. The father ran out and met his son on the road. The kid confessed his inappropriate actions as he said he would, but the father’s response was quite unexpected. “Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.” So the lost son was fully forgiven and restored, and the celebration began. The lost son could be any of us. His father is our Father in heaven!

In relating this story, Jesus taught the value of repent and return. When our lives get off track, repent and return is the only solution. He also let us know that our Father has a boatload of forgiveness, more than you might expect. God is good, even when we’re not!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

End-times Signs!

For Thursday, February 22, 2024:

Mark 13:8a NLT, Jesus speaking: “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines.”

Jesus gave his disciples more signs of the end times. One sign is seemingly never-ending wars. I’ll only highlight a couple.

Russia’s effort to overtake Ukraine is in year three now, and I’m sure that – to those people – it seems like it will never end. The inability to ship grain from Ukraine to Africa has resulted in a severe famine in Africa.

Our other worldly war is in Gaza. On Oct. 7^th of last year, a Hamas-led Palestinian group invaded Israel killing 1,139 Israelites, and taking 253 captive to Gaza. Surely Hamas anticipated Israel’s retaliation which has been devastating to Gaza’s greater population.

In college we learned that our entire continent is slowly moving west, accounting for some of California’s earthquakes. Our teacher predicted the coast would crumble and fold under the moving continent. He joked that someday we’d be able to buy ocean-front property in Utah! On the nightly news last night, I saw foot-deep cracks in the 101 and watched two million-dollar houses fall into the ocean.

I heard a preacher say that we are in the end times of the end times! There’s no better time to cement our personal relationship with Jesus. Each day we’re one day closer to heaven!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

End Times?

For Sunday, October 15, 2023:

Matthew 24:7 NLT: Words of Jesus: “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.”

Jesus was teaching his disciples about the future, about end times. Let’s take a look. First we have the wars. Russia trying to overtake Ukraine is the war on our nightly news. And now Hamas attacking Israel is already a bloody conflict. Because grain exports from Ukraine have been curtailed, famine is worse than ever in Africa. And a series of earthquakes in Afghanistan, three in the last week, have killed thousands.

Are these signs of the end times? Only God knows, but we’re told to keep our eyes open and to watch for the signs. Be vigilant about avoiding false prophets. Jesus says that wars and threats of wars will be the norm until he returns. Some people pray for peace, and that’s not bad, but I pray, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

As each day passes, we are one day closer to Jesus’ return!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Acts of God!

For Tuesday, September 26, 2023:

Psalm 46:1 NLT: “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Natural disasters are often called “Acts of God,” when “Acts of Satan” might be more correct. God did not yet end the Devil’s reign on earth, so we become unwitting witness to his evil efforts. The Bible speaks of earthquakes, flooding rains and surging oceans, and that’s certainly not an exhaustive list.

In addition to the natural disasters, people live in the midst of fighting and wars. Wars result in nations of poverty and famine, often many miles away. Example: Russia invaded Ukraine, whose grain was feeding a lot of Africa. Now people in Africa who know nothing of the war are starving. Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars until he returns. In other words, the world will be one big mess until Jesus shows up again.

So right there we’ve been given the answer: More God, more Jesus. God is our refuge, strength and hope. And Jesus will lead us to victory in the world’s final war.

Don’t be fooled by those headed down the wrong path. Satan represents weakness and defeat. Always stick with the winners!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship