Heaven is Expecting You!

For Tuesday, June 9, 2026:

Romans 8:30 NLT: “Having chosen his people, God called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

Disciples of Jesus are part of God’s plan for eternity. You were chosen, earmarked for heaven, from the beginning. Since the Father cannot coexist with sin, he arranged for our sins to be forgiven by the work Jesus did on the cross. In the end, everything works out according to God’s plan, and we’re blessed to be included.

Do you appreciate the size of God’s gift? The Bible says that there is life after this life, and there are only two destinations: God’s Kingdom, or Satan’s place. The Kingdom will be fun, filled with activity, worship and other good things. Satan can only provide a lake of fire, leaving residents miserable – forever! Once we leave this reality, we cannot cross over from one side to the other. The decision to be with Jesus can only be made by humans on earth. So there’s an urgency to lock in our eternal position before passing. Me? I’m with Jesus!

Nothing could be worse than knowing you had a chance to spend eternity with the Savior, but never followed through on it. TODAY is the day to claim your reservation in the hereafter. TODAY is the best day to dedicate or rededicate your life to the Son. He’s already preparing a place for you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Messiah!

For Thursday, January 22, 2026:

Luke 2:28-29 NLT: “Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.’”

It had been prophesied to Simeon that he would not die until the Lord’s Messiah had been revealed to him. And now he’s personally lifting baby Jesus in his arms! Voilà! The Messiah had arrived!

God always makes good on his promises! He promised to send a Savior, a Rescuer, a Messiah for his people. As it turns out, God’s gift was much more important than what the people were expecting. They were frustrated with Roman occupation of their land. They would have been happy just to be free of the Roman Army. God’s almighty gift was forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness opens the door to eternal life and residence in God’s forever heavenly Kingdom! BTW, there is no Roman army in God’s Kingdom! Mission accomplished and then some!

Don’t expect to understand supernatural events. Just accept the results. The Holy Spirit brought Jesus and Simeon together that day in the Temple, and Simeon identified Jesus to the world. This was only eight days into Jesus’ life. So everyone would have known right from the beginning that Jesus was heaven-sent.

His promise to forgive the sins of all who repent and return is as good today as it was 2k years ago. And God’s desire is that ALL would repent and return. His desire is that none would be lost. You can sign up for that program for free. Just acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life and repent of past sins. Draw a line in the sand, before Jesus and after Jesus. The after Jesus side of the line will be clean and fresh. Garbage will be left on the other side of the line. It’s easy to make the right decision. The sun will be shining on Jesus’ side of the line. See you there!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Deceivers!

 

For Saturday, January 10, 2026:

Matthew 24:4-5 NLT: Jesus told his disciples, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.”

Jesus said that no one will know the exact day and hour of his return. Only the Father knows. For believers, that’s the End Times. We have been told signs, things for which to watch, things to keep us on our toes so that when Jesus shows up, we can be prepared. Some theologians believe that we’re in the end times of the End Times. Most think we’re well past the halfway mark of the time until Jesus returns!

Who wants to be King of the World? Probably not you, and certainly not me! But many powerful, money-hungry people think that position was created for them. But those narcissists are only out for themselves. They are not heaven-sent individuals. When the Messiah returns, he won’t have to announce who he is. People will know. He’ll be doing Messiah stuff, things unattainable by any false prophet.

So keep your eyes peeled for the great deceivers. Discerning is more difficult than it first appears, since Jesus says that “many” will try to claim his status, and “many” will be liars. By the time Jesus returns, the world will likely be one big mess! We’ll no longer live securely in the land of the free and home of the brave. There is such division in our country that there may be another civil war.

Believers have confidence that Jesus will return to escort us into the hereafter, a far better place. He said he’d be back, and his word is always good. People will love the Lord, love each other and live in harmony. Life in God’s heavenly kingdom will be the way God intended for us to live from the beginning. There is sunshine on the horizon!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

World Peace!

For Sunday, September 21, 2025:

Luke 19:42 NLT, Jesus speaking as he enters Jerusalem: “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.”

Peace on earth is elusive. When God sends his Son to offer peace, right now is the right time to hop on the peace train. Immediately! If we’re not on board, the train may leave the station without us!

Jesus is prophesying a rough time for non-believers in Jerusalem. But Jesus is personally out of time. He already has “return to the Father” on his agenda. His disciples will have to continue the “eternal peace campaign” in his absence.

This will all happen “because you did not recognize it when God visited you.” That’s why our mission is to tell all people that indeed, the Son of God visited us on our planet. He walked alongside mankind. He died as the offering for all the sins of the world. And he will come again, to announce victory! Expect victory! Expect Jesus to win! Those with him will be ushered into the next reality, God’s Kingdom. Jesus will have a place ready for loyal believers!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship