End Times Progress!

For Saturday, January 17, 2026:

Matthew 24:7-8 NLT: Jesus speaking: “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

Jesus is teaching about the beginning of the end times. His description doesn’t sound like a pleasant time for anyone. Jesus is drawing a parallel to the pain of childbirth. But when childbirth ends, we get to hold a beautiful little baby, a miracle that puts a smile on everyone’s face! All’s well that ends well!

The Bible tells us that some people will give up during this time of tribulation. Don’t you be like them! One of the Bible’s most loyal believers was Job. We should imitate him, copy his behavior. Job loved the Lord and had a good life. Then things started going south, but Job still loved the Lord. He finally hit rock bottom: starvation and diseases. Job’s wife said he should curse God and then die! But Job didn’t do that. He never lost faith. He never lost hope! God eventually proved himself worthy of Job’s ongoing faith. Job’s good fortune was restored to the best it had ever been! God is good!

As we live our lives, expect some bad stuff. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The truly good life will be the life after this life. Jesus has prepared a place for the faithful in the next life, God’s forever Heavenly Kingdom!

Hold up the new baby, and put a smile on your face!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Raised from the Dead!

For Sunday, January 4, 2026:

Romans 6:4b NLT: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

Believers are inextricably linked with Jesus the Christ, although His way is a path from which we should not want to escape. In fact, we should think of a link with Jesus as a gift. If we aren’t connected with Jesus, we’d have no chance at the glorious life after this life that awaits believers. If we are sincere believers, total forgiveness and salvation reserve our place in the hereafter.

And friends, isn’t that all we really want, to live in God’s eternal kingdom? Only good people will be there, those who are radically transformed by the redeeming nature of Christ Almighty. The forgiven will be our neighbors. We may be surprised at how nice everyone is! In Heaven, it will be like everyone is on their best behavior. If God – Father, Son or Holy Spirit – asks us to help out with something, we won’t hesitate. We would be honored to be invited to participate on the winning team!

Jesus rose from the dead in three days, fully restored and still eager to serve God the Father. Even though the sin of the world was heaped upon him as he died on the cross, he took that burden to the place of the dead and left it there. He was given a second chance to change the minds of those who watched him die three days ago, and now see him dancing a jig on the grave of sin. Someone brought back to life should turn heads!

Like Jesus, mankind was burdened with sin, but believers have born again, given a second chance to get things right. When you get to the pearly gates, confidently tell the gatekeeper that you’re with the guy seated just to the right of God. That’s His Son, Jesus! He’ll welcome you with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Delivered!

For Wednesday, August 13, 2025:

Mark 13:24a, 26 NKJV: “After that tribulation, they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

Jesus said, “See, I have told you all things beforehand.” So we shouldn’t be surprised when we encounter false saviors, false christs. There will be many claiming the title, while in reality only seeking power for themselves. Earth will endure a difficult time as the tribulation unfolds. Believers will be separated from the rest of the world. Then the Son of Man will come in the sky to gather and protect his flock.

When Satan is conquered and subdued once and for all, God will restore the earth to his original plan, calling it the New Earth. As much as we talk about going to heaven, it’s only temporary. Our final destination is the New Earth, where God can walk amongst his people.

Each day we’re one day closer to the end times. Right now, the weather is crazy, and that’s a sign! We’re seeing excessive rains and flooding; a month’s worth of rain in a day. We might expect this in a hurricane, but two days ago it was Wisconsin! We will see wars and rumors of wars. We can’t seem to get Putin out of Ukraine, and the leaders of Gaza never should have attacked Israel, God’s chosen people.

The purpose of the end times is to deliver believers and quash Satan and his demons. You and I, the followers of Jesus, will be delivered to a glorious hereafter. God is good. Thank you, Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Faith Healing!

For Saturday, December 9, 2023:

Mark 1:30-31 NLT: “Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. The disciples told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.”

This wasn’t a big ceremonial healing for a large crowd. This was a personal faith healing. Jesus believed in the outcome, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. It never occurred to him that she wouldn’t be well when she sat up. Faith.

Out of gratitude for the health she had been given, Simon’s mother-in-law prepared supper for the guys. They needed the sustenance. A line was beginning to form outside Simon’s house, and the healings would continue well into the night.

People were beginning to understand who Jesus was and what he could do. The townsfolk watched in amazement as he healed a great many, and sent evil spirits packing.

Life is better without evil!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Restored!

For Thursday, August 20, 2020. 

John 5:11 JBP: “The man who made me well (Jesus) was the one who told me, ‘Pick up your bed and walk.’”

Jesus is the healing expert, and I encourage you to not put limits on him. When we hear of a healing, we tend to focus on that one particular affliction – the blind see, the lame walk, etc. But Jesus is capable of so much more! 

Jesus isn’t just in the healing business; he’s in the restoration business, returning the injured man to his original design specifications! So this Jesus-healing isn’t just for those with physical impairments – it’s for everyone! We all need healing, in that our relationship with our heavenly Father is skewed. Jesus is the Great Restorer, putting our relationship with heaven back the way God originally intended. Knowing that my relationship with my Creator is restored gives me a great deal of hope and peace.

“It is true that I am going ahead to prepare a place for you!” 

Blessings to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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