Father's House!

Dear followers of Monday Message/Daily Message of Hope: I’ve been out of the US for about a week, with spotty, irregular phone/internet service. Messages were sent each day, but many were not delivered or were delivered late/on the wrong days. Experience tells me that those with Apple phones fared better than those with Androids. This should self-correct as I’m back on US soil. Thank you for your patience, and for opting “IN” to receive the daily messages. Please tell a friend, or send me their cell number for a once-a-day ping based on God’s truth. If you wish to be removed from the list, let me know as well.

Blessings, Pastor Norton

For Tuesday, March 3, 2026:

John 14:2 NLT, Jesus speaking: “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?“

Before returning to the Father, Jesus poses a rhetorical question. His question answers a lot of our questions!

Nowadays, believers accept the fact that there’s a life after this life. Death is not the end. Believers look forward to an eternity in paradise in God’s heavenly Kingdom. But 2K years ago, people weren’t sure. The Sadducees didn’t believe in an afterlife. Pharisees thought it might be possible, but couldn’t say for certain.

The important point here is that Jesus knew that there was life after this life. Jesus! He put his name on the line, attesting to what he knew to be true. After all, he had been present at creation. He knew he was on a mission trip to earth, sent at the Father’s direction. And when his work here was finished, he intended to go back home. After all, he had promised to prepare a place there so that the loyal believers could join him in paradise. Jesus needed to leave first.

In the next reality, we’ll spend a great deal of time praising God. He chose to rescue us while we were still sinners and include us in the “saved” group. Extinguishing our light forever would have been the painful alternative, and God didn’t want that. After all, we’re made in His image!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

God-trend!

For Wednesday, November 30, 2022:

Proverbs 3:21-22a NLT: “My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul.”

God made mankind in his image, and equipped us with brains. It’s always good to consult the Bible, but we should be able to figure out a lot of things on our own. After all, God wrote his laws on our hearts, so we should instinctively know right from wrong.

Humans tend to consult God about individual incidents, but I believe God is more concerned with trends. It’s good if you help your neighbor clear their sidewalk, but God wants to see multiple incidents of kindness – the trend. God wants to see that you’re loving your neighbor as yourself – that you’re a kind person – all the time.

Trends become habits. If you’re in the habit of helping others – of being kind – that behavior tends to repeat itself. If you’re in the habit of loving your neighbor, it becomes second nature, the first thing you think of.

May our love for our neighbor grow to be our personal trend!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Jesus-team!

For Sunday, October 25, 2020 

Ephesians 2:10 NLT: “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

God waited until the 6^th day to create mankind. I believe a lot of thought went into the design. We’re created in His image – our spirit is modeled after God himself – and yet curiously we were given freedom of choice. Correctly choosing to follow the Messiah Jesus, we fit right in with God’s vast eternal plan! 

When we’re working WITH God rather than against Him, doing His work becomes a blessing, not a burden. God has only good things planned for the new brothers and sisters of Jesus!

When we join the Jesus-team, our old self dies and our old ways become distant memories. It’s like we’re born again! Fresh, given a new start! God is a God of second chances, and he doesn’t want to lose anyone. He always provides a return path for those who want to come home! 

Blessings to all this Sabbath day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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

Sanctity of Life/MLK Jr. Day

January 16, 2017 Monday Message:

“You, God, created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 (NIV)

Many churches celebrate Sanctity of Life Sunday on the 3^rd Sunday of January. Because New Years Day was Jan. 1^st, that means that last Sunday, Jan. 15^th, was Sanctity of Life Sunday, which puts it right up against Monday, Jan. 16^th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

So in our worship, should we celebrate Sanctity of Life or Racial Equality? I believe the correct answer is, “Both!”

The Bible is quite clear that God places a high priority on his creation of mankind, and that’s ALL mankind! People of different races, people of different colors, both men and women – they are all fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. God knows what he’s doing! God had the days planned for each of us before our bodies were even formed.

So this week, let’s celebrate the lives of all our brothers and sisters in Christ – all of God’s people!

Norton Lawellin

Join Jesus in the City Fellowship next Sunday, January 22, 2017. Pastor Van Dickerson brings us a message from 1 Cor. 7. We’re at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am.