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

Plot to kill!

For Tuesday, March 31, 2026:

Mark 11:18 NLT: “When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, (driving the corrupt from the Temple and overturning the money-changer’s tables,) they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.”

Palm Sunday saw the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, with people waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna, save us, save us now!”

Monday was the breaking point for Jesus. He’d had enough of the corruption and scams taking place in the Temple. He said, “My Father’s house should be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves,” as he overturned the money-changer’s tables.

So the next day, Tuesday, the leading priests and teachers of religious law started plotting how to kill Jesus. To them, he was nothing but trouble. Left a big mess in the Temple for someone else to clean up! But what complicated matters was that a lot of people thought Jesus was the best Bible teacher they’d ever seen! He seemed to have an inside track on explaining the Bible and God’s intentions. Of course, we now know that Jesus was God’s son, one-third of our Trinity God. The bad guys were trying to nail the Bible teacher with the most knowledge to a cross. Seems illogical, incongruous to me.

Nonetheless, the plot continued to develop. Those planning Jesus’ demise had no idea that they were fulfilling God’s agenda. Jesus had to die to take the sins of the world to the place of the dead. That way mankind’s sins could be forgiven, and the repentant could report to the Father. Everlasting life in God’s heavenly Kingdom could be the new reality for the faithful! Do your utmost to be among them!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Repent & Return:

Daily message of hope...

For Saturday, January 24, 2026:

 

Mark 16:15 NLT: “Then the risen Jesus told the believers, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”

 

Throughout the Old Testament, the bottom-line message has always been to repent and return. Repent of sin, and return to the Lord. Come back to God’s way, his commandments and his thinking. God has a plan to reward loyalty.

 

As the New Testament begins and Jesus enters our world, the plan unfolds. Jesus’ mission is to put the Father’s plan in motion. As He dies on a cross, He will take the sins of the world upon himself and carry them to the place of the dead, leaving the forgiven faithful as eligible for eternal residence in God’s heavenly Kingdom. Didn’t Jesus promise to prepare a place for us? And doesn’t Jesus always speak the truth? You might as well start packing, because we’re leaving soon

 

Before we leave, we should be doing what Jesus commanded: “Preach the Good News to everyone!” How we do that may look different for each of us, but if we combine our gifts, we can get the job done. Everyone needs to know that the heavenly train is leaving soon. There’s plenty of room, but we need to get on board with haste. That train won’t wait forever!

 

If you believe Jesus is who he said he was and have faith that he can do what he promised, you’re “IN!” You have something that only redeemed Christians have – Assurance of Salvation! Relax. God has you covered!

 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

God's Plan!

For Thursday, October 24, 2024:

John 7:1 NLT: “Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death.”

Jesus taught that God was good and the world was evil, and for this he was hated. Jesus pointed out the messed up theology of the Pharisees that was taught at the Temple, and even this early in his ministry, Jesus knew his time would be coming to an end.

But now it was time for the Festival of Shelters/Tabernacles/Sukkos/Sukkot. It celebrates creating a place of worship, and a place for God to live amongst his people. Jews were commanded to celebrate this each year, appearing before the Lord in a place he would select. By this time, the place was in Judea, in Jerusalem, at the Temple. Jesus’ companions thought he should attend. He could put his miracles on display and become famous, but Jesus wanted no part of it. “I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” All things in God’s time!

The Pharisees had not a clue that their plotting Jesus’ demise was fulfilling God’s vast eternal plan! As Jesus died on the cross, he would take the sins of the world to the place of the dead, and leave them there. Believers would have their sins not only forgiven, but there would be no record of their ever having sinned. Jesus would prepare loyal believers for eternal residence in the presence of the Almighty. He would go on to prepare their place in the hereafter!

Friends, there was indeed a master plan for the rescue of mankind, and Jesus, being omniscient, knew all the details ahead of time. Therefore he continued his ministry in Galilee. He would later return to Jerusalem for Passover, to complete God’s plan for mankind’s rescue.

Believes are the beneficiaries of God’s rescue plan!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Salvation!

August 21, 2023 Monday Message:

Romans 6:5 NLT: “Since we have been united with Christ in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.”

Jesus was sent to earth by the Father. He taught, healed and died to take away the sins of the world. But he didn’t come with instructions, with a users manual. No one had written a “How It Works” sheet, a handout for new believers.

The remaining Apostles knew that faith in Jesus was the key. Intelligent converts like Paul put the pieces together and wrote letters to others to teach them about salvation. This is what we’re reading in Romans. Diligent researchers like Luke reported in great detail how Jesus had rescued mankind.

In Jesus’ day, there was considerable disagreement about any kind of life after this life. Jesus removed all doubt! According to the Bible, over 600 people saw him up, walking around and heard him speak after being declared dead and then placed in a tomb. A crowd watched Jesus ascend into heaven as he returned to his Father’s Kingdom.

Jesus promised to prepare a place in the hereafter for all who believe! We’re going there too!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship