Eternity Decision!

For Tuesday, August 19, 2025:

John 12:50, Jesus speaking: “I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

What is your goal in this life? The Bible prepares us to enter the next reality, the life after this life, and it offers only two choices. #1 is spending eternity in the glorious Kingdom with God and his Son. #2 is being miserable under Satan’s hand and eventually gaining first-hand experience in the lake of fire. It’s really no contest! Our goal in this life should be to successfully enter God’s eternity in the next life. Jesus is teaching us things that please the Lord, and we should be intentional about doing those things!

The Good News is that God doesn’t want to lose anyone. His desire is that all would repent and return to the flock. Not everyone will return, because God created us with the ability to choose and make decisions. Unfortunately, some will make the wrong decision.

Therefore, it’s up to each of us to make the best decision possible. If we claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have assurance of salvation. Friends, solidify your eternal goal. Keep your eyes on Jesus, his Father and the Kingdom!

If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Whose Children?

For Wednesday, September 18, 2024:

1 John 3:10 NLT: “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”

I’ve heard people caution others, “Don’t do that; it’s against the law!” The deed would be contrary to rules legislated by mankind. But are those the rules that really matter?

I almost never hear someone say, “Don’t do that; it’s a sin!” Friends, shouldn’t God’s laws be more important to us than mankind’s laws?

Sin in its simplest form is disrespect for God. God wants what’s best for us, but sinners think they know a better or different way. They don’t. Believers already know right from wrong because God’s laws are written on their hearts. They are children of God. Evildoers are children of the devil.

God allows us to choose sides, and we can easily tell who’s on one side and who’s on the other.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Judgement Day!

For Wednesday, July 31, 2024:

2 Peter 2:4 NLT: “God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in chains and gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.”

Surprisingly, there are bad angels. Some wish they were as powerful as God. They are not. Some think they can out-guess God’s vast eternal plan. They can not. Understanding this is simple: Angels are created beings, and God is the Creator. God can always create another angel, but angels can never create another God! Apparently they’re not smart enough to understand the futility of their efforts. They wind up joining Satan’s minions, awaiting judgement day, which will come. Count on it!

Judgement day will also come for mankind. Understand that good and evil cannot coexist. That’s why accepting the forgiveness offered by Jesus is so important. Believers were not always innocent (all have sinned…), but their sin has now been taken away by the work Jesus accomplished on the cross. Believers are separated from sin as far as the East is from the West. Sin is taken to the bottom of the deepest ocean, leaving believer’s souls suitable for residence in the eternal Kingdom. God is good! His desire is that none would perish, but that all would repent and return, joining him above!

Your choices are heaven or a lake of fire. The best decision is self-evident!

Blessings!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Chosen!

For Wednesday, September 27, 2023:

Romans 9:16 NLT: “It is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.”

We are saved by grace, by God’s mercy. God designed us, and knew us in our mother’s womb. And way back then, he called many to become children of God, to be adopted into the Holy Family. God gave us free choice, so must say yes to his invitation.

We are not called according to our good and bad works. We can’t “earn” our way into God’s favor, nor can we be disqualified. We have already been chosen.

God explained to Moses that he can show mercy and compassion to anyone he chooses. If you’re reading this, odds are that you were hand-picked by God himself!

Rejoice that you were culled for the Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Your Purpose!

October 24, 2022 Monday Message:

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

I’m reminded of Pastor Rick Warren’s best-selling Christian book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” God had a specific reason for creating you. It’s like the world is a giant jigsaw puzzle, and you’re the missing piece! Are you willing to ‘fit in,’ to fulfill your mission in God’s vast eternal plan?

Of course God gave us ‘free choice,’ so we can either live God’s way or find our own path. Here God is telling us in advance that his plans are good, and that God’s way will give us hope for a bright future.

God’s way is also easier, the path of least resistance. Ignoring God’s calling and choosing your own way leads to an uphill struggle, usually not worth it. The Lord’s way is the best way!

The Good Shepherd only wants the best for the sheep in his flock!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Choose Wisely!

August 22, 2022 Monday Message:

Psalm 116:12 NLT: “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?”

What does the Lord want from mankind? God, the ultimate creator, already has everything he needs!

Humans were given ‘free choice,’ the ability to make decisions. God wants us to choose wisely! What he really wants is a relationship with us and unfailing loyalty. Christianity is more a relationship than a religion. We honor God’s commands out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us, not to earn our way into heaven.

If we have a solid relationship with the Lord, he will forgive our shortcomings. That’s why Jesus was sent to earth, to rescue mankind from our sin-problem.

Choosing Jesus is always the best choice. After all, he already chose you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Praise the Lord God!

For Thursday, August 4, 2022:

Psalm 72:19 NLT, David praying: “Praise be to the Lord God’s glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.”

Believers ‘get it,’ and unbelievers don’t ‘get it.’ Everything we find here on earth was made possible by a God who loves us and desires a relationship with us.

God loves us so much that he trusted us with free choice. Believers have made a decision that God is God, and we are not! The God we follow promises a life after this life in paradise.

Some people think they’re so important that they can be their own god. For them I have one question: What is your heaven like?

David had settled this matter in his mind. He was committed to the God who called him, “A man after my own heart!” God loved David, and David loved the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

You're Included!

For Saturday, May 14, 2022:

Hosea 2:23 NLT, words from God: “I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’ And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”

God is inclusive. Most people are overjoyed when they hear the words, “I’d like to include you!” Nobody likes to be left out.

God sent his Son the Redeemer through the Jews, but Jesus is the Light of the World, the Savior for ALL who believe. With Jesus, God dismissed the old Hebrew covenant and gave us a new inclusive covenant, offering salvation to the Gentile world as well as the Jews. God’s desire is that no one would be lost.

God designed mankind with ‘free choice,’ so that we can voluntarily choose Heaven! We can choose to be included!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

God's Love!

For Thursday, October 15, 2020 

Psalm 119:58 NIV: “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”

God’s love is showered upon us as a response to our love for him. His desire is that none would be lost, but he won’t run you down and tackle you! You have been given, after all, free choice. 

I wanted to say that God’s love was the ‘reciprocal’ to our love, but that could imply that they’re equal, and they’re not. We can only love God with a human portion; He can love us back with a Godly portion, so much greater!

If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, God will adopt us into the Holy Family and shower us with his good will, and knowing that gives us a lot of hope! 

Blessings to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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