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

Faith!

For Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Matthew 9:29 NIV: “Jesus touched their eyes and said, 'Because of your faith, it will happen.'”

Jesus was healing the blind, but the same principle applies to us all. Their lives were radically transformed by their faith; our lives too can be radically transformed by our faith. Our faith can make things happen!

In many ways, our lives are self-fulfilling prophecies. If we think of ourselves as lazy and incompetent, that will likely be the result. But if we think of ourselves as winners, we're more likely to become winners. Leaders coach those around them to be winners too. We not only tell it like it is; we tell it like it could be! We impart hope!

What are you expecting from yourself this week?

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Psalms 72 - Pray for Our Leaders

November 28, 2016 Monday Message:

“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.” Psalms 72:1 NLT

This ancient prayer for a country’s leader and the country’s next leader is as relevant today as it was for King David and his son Solomon 3,000 years ago.

Without regard for political affiliations, we should always pray that God’s value system would be the moral compass guiding our leaders. We need honest, truthful leaders, who live out their lives as if Jesus was watching – because he is watching! God has no time for those who cannot be honest, who cannot tell the truth.

God will also test the compassion of his leaders, wanting them to love their country and its residents just as Jesus loved everyone. Heaven wants leaders to love all their neighbors without constantly asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus already answered that, by saying that your neighbor may not look like you or speak like you or dress like you. Jesus said to be nice to pretty much everybody, unless they give you reason to do otherwise.

Because the out-going and the in-coming administrations in the US are so different, is perhaps the best reason to pray for God’s hand on all of this.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Advent 2, Dec. 4, 2016, Pastor Pilla teaches about the birth of Jesus foretold.