Thanksgiving!

For Thursday, November 27, 2025:

Genesis 12:7 NIV: “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

The purpose of Thanksgiving is twofold: worship and expression of thankfulness. In the US, today is Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday with a checkered history and a biblical precedent. God established this covenant: “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” Consequently, God took very good care of his people, who then gave thanks to God for all he had done for them, and for all he would continue to do.

 As the US began, George Washington declared a time of thanksgiving, gratitude for our independence from British rule. God had granted them freedom, and saying they were grateful would be an understatement. (I’m sure Washington was also thankful for the ability to remain standing in tLincolnhat boat as his image was captured for posterity!)

The nation grew, and observance of Thanksgiving varied from state to state. It was not always on the same date. President Abraham Lincoln finally declared Thanksgiving a national holiday on the last Thursday of November. During his term, the internal conflict between North/South ended, so there was plenty for which to be thankful.

May the Lord be at the center of your Thanksgiving day events. Have a warm and safe day filled with gratitude. May God’s blessings go with you and your families, not just today, but always! In Jesus’ name...Amen!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

 

People of God!

For Sunday, August 27, 2023:

Romans 6:15 NLT: “Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!”

Paul answers a stupid question. I call it that because thinking that people of God could live in constant sin is ludicrous. Those who believe should emulate Jesus’ way of living. He was sinless and had an abundance of love!

Our motivation has also shifted. When living under the law, we were trying to obey God’s commands. But when living under the new covenant, we live like Godly people out of gratitude for Jesus’ gift to us. Jesus took away the sin of the world leaving us suitable to take up residence in the Kingdom, and for that we’re very grateful!

Heaven awaits those who believe in the Son!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Kindness of God!

July 17, 2023 Monday Message:

Romans 2:4 NLT: “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

The Bible tells us that ALL have sinned. But God, who is kind, tolerant and patient with us, gives us chance after chance to repent and return. It’s up to each of us to choose to live God’s way. But it’s a choice we have to make. We can choose to accept God or reject him. God designed mankind with the freedom to choose.

Paul is seeking a sign of gratitude from the Roman believers. God is so good, continually offering opportunities for us to join with the faithful, continually offering us hope when we don’t deserve it.

And if God’s kindness is intended to turn believers from their sin, we should start seeing less sin among the believers. Out of gratitude for what God has given us – forgiveness and a reservation in eternity – we give back. We do good works and financially support our home church. We sacrificially give to rescue people from natural disasters and other violent tragedies.

Christians should look and act like they’re God’s people, grateful people!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Give Thanks!

For Thursday, November 25, 2021 Thanksgiving Day

Psalm 100:4 NIV: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Each of our lives is unique, and yet each of us has similar things for which to be thankful. Jesus said that just as God provides for the birds of the field, so would He provide for us. Certainly mankind is more valuable than some wild birds! So we have food, shelter and clothing. And we have family, friends and our Christian brothers and sisters. God blesses us with jobs, transportation and a whole lot more! I couldn’t begin to list all the good things that God pours into our lives!

Think about this - If God has richly blessed you, shouldn’t you be grateful? Shouldn’t you offer praise and thanksgiving for all he has done? It almost goes without saying.

God only wants what’s best for you! Therefore God has laid out an open-ended offer to include you in his kingdom. God’s desire is truly that no one would be lost; that all would repent and return. He wanted that so much that he sent his Son to rescue mankind. (John 3:16) “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Now put your own name in there. God so loved Mary or Bob or Linda or Ralph – God loves YOU so much that He sacrificed His only Son, that you might be granted everlasting life.

And because of that colossal gift of eternity in the presence of the Father, it is not only right, but it is essential that we give thanks in great quantity!

Today is a good day to give thanks!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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